Good news for those working on a minimum wage. The minimum wage will rise by 50 cents on April 1, hence increasing the current wage from $15.25 to $15.75.
In an announcement made today, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse said that the starting-out and training hourly minimum wage rates will also increase from $12.20 to $12.60 per hour remaining at 80 percent of the adult minimum wage.
Mr Woodhouse said the increase in minimum wage to $15.75 would benefit approximately 119,500 workers and will increase wages throughout the economy by $65 million per year.
"At a time when annual inflation is 0.4 per cent, a 3.3 per cent increase to the minimum wage will give our lowest paid workers more money in their pockets, without hindering job growth or imposing undue pressure on businesses."
The minimum wage was earlier increased by 50 cents an hour on April 1 in 2016 and has been rising every year since 2009.