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.
The number of unemployed people declined by 12.4%, marking the largest quarterly percentage fall in unemployment since 1986.
Companies are seeking to inoculate employees after the Ministry of Health sought expressions of interest to provide workplace vaccination.
The legislation doubling the minimum number of sick leave from five to 10 took effect on Saturday, July 24, for employees in New Zealand.
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.
Some government officials are rejecting Labour’s Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) plan in favour of tightening existing employment laws.
The civil construction and infrastructure industry has set up a centre to help meet the needs of the country in infrastructural skills.
Amid a shortage of experienced retail staff, employers have been forced to increase wages to retain and attract talent.
A border worker who was dismissed for refusing to get the COVID-19 jab has brought her case to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
The New Zealand parliament has passed a bill that will double the number of paid sick leave for employees from five to 10 days.
The launch of the national framework to measure workplace diversity, equity and inclusion will help organisations make changes to improve.
An inquiry made into how the scheme was managed revealed that applications were approved based on verbal confirmation, without documents.
Over the March quarter, employment rose by 15,000 in New Zealand, as the country continues to recover from the pandemic.
The decision to restart the working visa programme was welcomed by tourism employers, who would have access to a pool of offshore workers.
Job vacancies have also increased across all industries, with the highest growth in healthcare, manufacturing, construction and hospitality.
Beginning April 1, the minimum hourly wage in the country will increase to NZ$20 (US$14) from the current NZ$18.9 (US$13.2).
The bill will apply to parents, their partners, and parents planning to have a child through surrogacy or adoption, but will exclude abortion.
The net number of people getting off the unemployment benefit has increased for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Finance minister Grant Robertson has announced that employers can start to apply for the latest government wage subsidies.
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) and Business New Zealand (BNZ) have called on workplaces to help the country get through the pandemic safely.
The revised Holidays Act will provide clarity to employers and help employees receive their leave entitlements.
Companies must show a 30% fall in revenue over seven days compared with a similar period in the six weeks prior to the heightened alert level.
The government is considering giving employees the COVID-19 vaccine the same way they get their annual flu jab at work.
The government has launched the Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP) – a scheme to help businesses and staff affected by the pandemic.
The unemployment rate fell unexpectedly and salaries increased, ruling out the probability that the central bank will reduce interest rates.
The majority of roles being recruited are not for entry level positions, indicating a longer-term skills shortage for senior talent.
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is pushing for the removal of the rule that workers must be employed for six months before getting sick leave.
Sectors like IT and communications; trades and services; transport and logistics; and manufacturing have seen the most postings.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke out against companies that benefited from the subsidies, yet handed out large bonuses in 2020.
The pact will allow both countries to conduct businesses with greater efficiency, increased trust, and reduced costs or digital barriers.
