Minimum wage increases do not appear to be choking the job marketREBEKAH PARSONS-KING/Fairfax NZ Workplace Relations Minister says increasing the minimum wage must be balanced against hindering job growth. OPINION: If the inflation-busting increase in the minimum wage would hurt anyone, presumably it would be big business. Indeed, this year's announcement marks the ninth year in a row that the minimum wage has been increased since National took office, from $12 to $12.50 back in 2009. All but two of the increases have been 50c an hour, with 25c increases in 2010 and 2013. Critics of raising the minimum wage have long claimed the real victims are the poor, because employers cannot afford to take on new workers.

Source: Stuff January 24, 2017 04:36 UTC