Worker lauds Labour wage plan

The Gisborne fruit packhouse worker who became the face of low-paid Kiwis during the election campaign says the change of government is a step in the right direction.

In September, Gisborne woman Robin Lane grilled Bill English over the minimum wage, saying the $3.75 increase over nine years under National had not kept pace with the cost of living and inflation.

The confrontation came during the National Party leader’s visit to Gisborne’s Kaiaponi Farms.

Many of the people who worked in the packhouse, some of whom had been there for 20 years, were being paid under $17 an hour.

Lane called out English on workers’ inability to cover basic living costs.

‘‘How would you like it if your wages went up $3.75 over nine years?’’ Lane asked English.

The National leader said he would find it ‘‘quite a challenge’’ to survive on the minimum wage.

Yesterday, Lane said she was happy with the Labour-led Government’s promise to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2021.

However, there would always be a gap between the minimum wage and the living wage, which sits at $20.20.

‘‘It’s always going to be that holy grail that we’ll never get hold of.’’

Under National, the minimum wage rose from

$15.75.

In Labour’s coalition agreement with NZ First, the Government promised to progressively increase the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2020, with the final increase to take effect in April 2021.

On Wednesday, National finance spokesman Steven Joyce hit out at the new government’s plan, saying it would hurt businesses.

However, Lane said about 700,000 New Zealanders existing on less than the living wage were already hurting.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Government would provide support or compensation to businesses struggling with minimum wage rises. $12 in 2008, to