Employment
Worker perks on offer as labour market tightens
Four-day weeks, social outings and weekends away are among benefits on offer from companies competing for workers in a tight labour market.
Employers offering cushy benefits to lure in-demand workers
As a strong economy is credited with a fall in the unemployment rate, employers says this is a downside. And that's because they're struggling to recruit. Four day weeks, social outings and weekends… Audio
Tourism and construction growth drives unemployment below 5%
The unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in the first three months of the year as the economy created 29,000 new jobs. Audio
Contractor penalised $73k for underpaid workers
A vineyard labour contractor who underpaid 83 workers has been ordered to pay more than $73,000 dollars in penalties and pay arrears.
High costs and worker shortage hit construction
An acute shortage of construction workers is pushing property developers and building companies to the wall. Audio
Govt inks landmark $2bn pay equity settlement
The government has officially signed a $2 billion equity settlement giving tens of thousands of care and support workers a pay rise.
250 Queenstown ski field workers out in the cold
About 250 ski field staff still need accommodation despite a plea from a field operator for locals to house workers which has been taken up by 50 homeowners. Audio
Airport company's powers questioned after search blunder
A random search of Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Auckland highlights a worrying lack of knowledge about a new company's powers, a union says.
Research into gen gaps & it's not what you might think
New research into age discrimination and inter-generational conflict has found that while younger and older workers may clash, they have more in common than previously thought. The Generation Gaps… Audio
Disability support workers walk off the job
Hundreds of disability support workers around the country took to the streets this morning in a one-hour strike against their working conditions.
Pharmacies accused of short-changing employees
Ten Auckland pharmacies are being accused of failing to pay up to 35 workers the minimum wage and holiday pay.
3000 disability support workers to strike over pay
A nation-wide strike of 3000 disability support workers is set to take place on Thursday.
Quiet streets in big cities as workers take four-day weekend
The CBDs in Wellington and Auckland were quieter than usual this morning as more people sought a longer break from work.
Enough jobs for library staff, Auckland libraries says
The head of Auckland Libraries says every staff member who wants a job will get one, despite a major overhaul of the service.
Resthomes would be hit by new visa rules
Rest homes fear they will be hit hard by new immigration rules, and lose thousands of migrant care workers, the Aged Care Association says.
Defence Force accused of intimidating striking staff
The Defence Force denies it tried to stop civilian staff taking part in a strike for better pay, but the workers' union says it acted unlawfully.
Pay Equity Bill would have wrecked $2bn settlement case - unions
The government is defending its Pay Equity Bill following criticism from unions, which say the proposed law is fundamentally flawed and a step backwards for women.
New immigration rules could hit young foreign students
The government's new immigration rules are likely to put off many young foreigners from choosing to study in New Zealand, education providers say.
Grocer fined $12k for trying to exploit worker
An Auckland grocer has been fined $12,000 by the Employment Relations Authority for attempting to exploit a worker.
'We're not going to have cows being milked'
Proposed immigration changes could harm the country's economy if they prevented farmers from holding onto migrant workers long-term, Federated Farmers says. Audio
