BusinessNZ seeks clarity on SOP for Omicron outbreak
Clarity is being sought on the definitions of a contact, and the triggers for isolation once the Omicron strain starts spreading in the community.
New Zealand provides financial aid for companies with revenue shortfall
The government is granting financial support to help companies transition to the new traffic light system for managing COVID-19.
Full vaccination mandated for some workers in New Zealand
Unvaccinated staff in businesses where customers need to show My Vaccine Pass cannot work unless they are fully inoculated against COVID-19.
New Zealand urged to increase minimum wage for essential workers
The Council of Trade Unions’ call to increase the minimum wage to NZ$22.75 is in line with the current living wage.
New Zealand rejects claim that vaccine mandate breaches human rights
Claims by five government workers who said that their human rights have been violated due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate have been dismissed.
New Zealand’s unemployment falls to record low in Q3’21
The number of unemployed people declined by 18,000 in the third quarter to 98,000, and marks the lowest unemployment level since 2008.
New Zealand makes vaccination mandatory for hospitality staff
Employees of businesses where customers are required to show vaccine certificates will be given four weeks to also get the jab or face sacking
Some 40,000 small businesses in New Zealand go digital
The Digital Boost programme is a free training programme that has helped 40,000 small businesses improve their digital skills.
New Zealand employers urge for mandatory vaccine passports
The Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA) is calling on the government to mandate workers to carry digital vaccine passports to enter workplaces.
Auckland businesses urge mandate of “no jab, no job” regulation
Businesses in Auckland are calling for government-mandated vaccination at workplaces amid a lockdown that has lasted seven weeks.
New Zealand to roll out fourth wage subsidy package
The subsidies will be available to companies country-wide that experience or expect a 40% fall in revenue during the fortnight to October 11.
Sacked port worker in New Zealand loses High Court case
An ex-customs service worker who opted not to be vaccinated and consequently got sacked has lost her case at the High Court.
New Zealand doles out additional payments to support businesses
To qualify, companies must suffer at least a 30% fall in revenue over seven days as a result of being under alert level 2 or higher.
New Zealand temp staff unable to access wage subsidy scheme
The issue of recruitment agencies not being able to access governmental wage subsidies is being examined and discussed.
New Zealand considers additional COVID-19 support for firms
Over 25,000 businesses have signed an Auckland Business Chamber petition calling for the provision of more financial support.
New Zealand accountants urge for WFH tax policy
Chartered accountants in the country are calling for tax laws to be passed as working from home becomes the new norm.
New contracts in New Zealand can include vaccination requirement
Workplace relations minister has confirmed that COVID-19 vaccination requirements can be written into new employment agreements.
Big employers in New Zealand not applying for wage subsidy
Big businesses are conspicuously absent from applying for the latest wage subsidy scheme pushed out by the government.
Over 47,000 businesses apply for wage subsidies in New Zealand
Revenues have dropped for many businesses as the country goes into Level 4 lockdown mode in response to a Delta variant outbreak of COVID-19.
New Zealand reinstates wage subsidy amid lockdown
As the country raises its COVID-19 alert to level 4, the government is planning to reinstate the wage subsidy.
New Zealand’s wage inflation rises 2.1% in the year-to-June quarter
The labour cost index (LCI) of all salary and wages, including overtime pay, increased by 2.1%, showing an increase of 1.6% in the year-to-March 2021 quarter.
New Zealand’s unemployment rate falls to 4% in June quarter
The number of unemployed people declined by 12.4%, marking the largest quarterly percentage fall in unemployment since 1986.
New Zealand companies express interest for workplace vaccination
Companies are seeking to inoculate employees after the Ministry of Health sought expressions of interest to provide workplace vaccination.
10-day sick leave rule takes effect in New Zealand
The legislation doubling the minimum number of sick leave from five to 10 took effect on Saturday, July 24, for employees in New Zealand.
Over 50% of gig workers in New Zealand earn below minimum wage
Some 30% of gig workers estimated their hourly wage after expenses to be between NZ$18.90 and 2021’s scheduled minimum wage of NZ$20.
New Zealand officials opposes Labour’s Fair Pay Agreement proposal
Some government officials are rejecting Labour’s Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) plan in favour of tightening existing employment laws.
New Zealand launches Infrastructure Skills Centre
The civil construction and infrastructure industry has set up a centre to help meet the needs of the country in infrastructural skills.
New Zealand retail workers’ pay rises 6.1%
Amid a shortage of experienced retail staff, employers have been forced to increase wages to retain and attract talent.
Sacked New Zealand border staff mounts legal challenge to dismissal
A border worker who was dismissed for refusing to get the COVID-19 jab has brought her case to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
New Zealand increases sick leave from five to 10 days
The New Zealand parliament has passed a bill that will double the number of paid sick leave for employees from five to 10 days.