Government votes down $15 minimum wage

Labour MP Darien Fenton's Minimum Wage and Remuneration Bill was voted down by the National/Act Government in Parliament this week.

The Bill would have brought minimum wage rights to thousands of contractors who are currently without protection because their employment status excludes them from the Minimum Wage Act.

It would also have increased the minimum wage for all workers to $13.00 on 1 July this year, $14.00 on 2 July 2010 and $15.00 in 2011.