4.2% increase to cost government $77,000 a year
By Phillipa Webb
RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, April 30, 2015) – Workers dreams of increasing the Cook Islands minimum wage to be on par with New Zealand and Australia took a small step in the right direction yesterday.
Minister of Internal Affairs Albert Nicholas, in accordance with the Employment Relations Act 2012, announced that the minimum wage for 2015 will increase from $6 an hour to $6.25 per hour [US$4.62 - $4.82] as of July 1 this year.
The cost government of the 4.2 per cent increase is estimated to be $100,000 [US$77,000] per annum.
Guided by the 2015 minimum wage review panel, Nicholas said the government is positive about the increase.
Nicholas said it would be nicer if it was a bit more than 25 cents, but the government is ‘comfortable’ with their position at this stage.
"I think any government’s dream probably is that they can go out there and give a huge...