Minimum Wage

There are three minimum wage rates:

• Adult minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and over who are not new entrants or trainees.

• New entrants minimum wage applies to employees aged 16 and 17 except for those who have completed 200 hours or three months of employment, whichever is shorter; or who are supervising or training other workers; or who are trainees.

• Training minimum wage applies to employees aged 16 and over who are doing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits a year.

Minimum Wage for under 16 years of age

• There is no statutory minimum wage for employees who are under 16 years old.

Minimum wage rates from 1 April 2011

The minimum wage rates are reviewed every year. As of 1 April 2011 the adult minimum wage rages (before tax) that apply for employees aged 16 or over are:

• $13.00 per hour which is

• $104.00 for an 8 hour day or

• $520.00 for a 40 hour week.

The rates that apply to new entrants, and employees on the training minimum wage (before tax), are:

• $10.40 per hour, which is

• $83.20 for an 8 hour day or

• $416.00 for a 40 hour week

Holiday Pay

• Holiday pay must be paid in addition to the minimum wage. If an employee receives “pay-as-you-go” holiday pay, this payment must be a separate and identifiable part of their pay.

• An increase in the minimum wage will not affect an employee’s other conditions of employment, unless they agree to the changes.

• All workers, no matter how long they have been at a job, are entitled to 11 public holidays including Christmas Day and Easter if they fall on days on which they would normally work. You can agree to work any of these days but you can’t be dismissed for refusing to work a public holiday.

• If you are required to work on a public holiday, you are entitled to a day's holiday pay in lieu plus payment at the rate of time and a half you work on a public holiday.

• All workers including full time workers, part-time workers, fixed term, temporary or casual workers must get at least 4 weeks paid holidays a year. If you are a part-time worker and work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, you are entitled to take 4 weeks of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

• If you worked for less than a year in a job (and so didn't become entitled to take annual holidays) then you must be paid 8% of your total gross earnings when you leave. Total gross earnings mean all salary, wages, overtime pay, allowances, and commission.

• Employers can include your annual holiday pay (at least 8% of your gross earnings) with your regular pay if you are employed on a fixed term agreement to work for less than a year or if you work so irregularly that it is impractical for the employer to provide you with 4 weeks annual holidays. However, this can only happen if you agree to have your holiday pay included in your regular pay. Holiday pay must be paid as an identifiable part of your regular pay.

[s16 Holidays Act 2003]