Today’s record employment rate of 68.3 percent, matched by the lowest unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in over a decade means better lives for thousands of New Zealanders, Minister of Employment Willie Jackson says.

23 Oct: 1202  |  New Zealand’s biggest meat processor, Silver Fern Farms has kept its side of the bargain by increasing the number of Samoan RSE workers.

By the first week of November, 100 new Samoa RSE workers should be employed in the four Silver Fern Meat Processing operations in New Zealand including 40 in their new Pacific Plant. Already 135 Samoan RSE workers are on the Sliver Fern’s payroll.

And the company has committed to hire total contingent of 250 Samoans to work for 10 months with them and it’s just rewards for government and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, (MCIL) the implementing agency for the Seasonal Workers incentives for New Zealand and Australia.

At a pre-departure meeting yesterday, the 100 new intakes were not spared by M.C.I.L’s Chief Executive Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling and Samoa’s New Zealand based R.S.E. Liaison Officer Lemalu Nele Leilua

“You carry the hopes of your wives, children, parents, family, your people and your government,” urged Pulotu. “Do not waste this once in a lifetime opportunity by falling into temptation.

“Stay away from alcohol because it has been proven time and again as the cause of misery and termination of your contracts.

“Your performance also carry the hopes of your government for more opportunities from Silver Ferns.

“Ruin it and you, your family and your village will face the consequences.”  Read More . . . >

Ensuring that employment practices are free from gender bias, that pay rates are transparent and that the role of unpaid work is finally recognised, are among new Principles launched today to help workers and employers eliminate the gender pay gap in the state sector.

Seniors Minister Tracey Martin today released a discussion document and opened consultation on a new positive ageing strategy.

E tū says thousands of its members are expected to benefit from the Government’s Families Package, which cames into effect 1 july.

The package includes:

• widening eligibility for key benefits including Working for Families which will increase for many
• wider access to the Accommodation supplement and an increase for eligible people in expensive locations such as Auckland and Hamilton
• a Winter Fuel benefit
• A lift in the Family Tax Credit and an increase in the abatement threshold.
• Best Start payments for families with a new baby.
• The implementation of the package also coincides with the extension of Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks.

“The Government is committed to addressing child poverty in this country and the only way to do that is to lift the family income,” says E tū Industry Coordinator, Jill Ovens.

“That’s what this package does in many different ways, including crucially in the child’s first year of life, and for three years for those on low incomes. $3,000 a year will make a huge difference towards giving children a really good start,” she says.

Jill says the extension of paid parental leave will also benefit children by giving parents, whether the father or the mother time to strengthen the bond with their baby.

“That’s all about giving parents choices,” she says.

Jill says the changes are complex and members should check the details of the package to establish their correct entitlements.

E tū has welcomed the Government’s decision to move all directly employed workers in the core public service to a wage rate of at least $20.55 - the 2018 Living Wage.

Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand welcomes the Government’s announcement on the Living Wage for core public services.

Are you in the situation where you have time on your hands?  Maybe you have recently retired from the workforce but would still like to keep in touch with your colleagues, peers and business associates.

The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is seeking to recruit a dedicated representative for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The successful candidate will be tasked with becoming a new driving force to work with LEEA’s members in the promotion of excellence and to increase their influence across all end-user markets in both countries.

The 90-day trial periods really should be called the “take a chance on me” workers’ legislation,” according to John Milford, chief executive, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and ExportNZ Central.