He knew of other supermarket owners who only paid minimum wage. READ MORE:* New Zealand's 'working poor' and the push to understand how many are struggling* Govt to lift minimum wage to $17.70 an hour next year* Minimum wage rise hits labour-intensive fruit exportersMark hopes the $1.20 lift in the minimum wage on April 1 will help him to negotiate a rate of more than $20 an hour. The lift in the minimum wage to $17.70 an hour on April 1 will be the largest increase in the adult minimum wage in dollar terms. A survey of 400 exporters by ExportNZ found businesses with 75-to-120 staff said the minimum wage increase would add an extra $120,000 to $800,000 to wage costs a year. CLINTON LLEWELLYN/STUFF Steep rises in the minimum wage will hit labour-intensive industries such as horticulture.

Source: Stuff February 28, 2019 21:22 UTC