Little Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17742. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.ANDREW LITTLE (Labour) to theMinister of Labour: Is he satisfied wage and salary earners are getting a fair share of the economy?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Labour): Yes. Growth in our economy has been strong over the past year. The latest quarterly employment survey shows that wages are growing around 1 percent higher than inflation and the average full-time wage over the past 2 years has increased around $3000. This Government is committed to continuing to grow the economy ensuring everyone gets a fair share.Andrew Little: What practical measures will he take to avoid a repeat of the situation of 46 percent of wage and salary earners nearly half the workforce not receiving a pay rise last year during a period of economic growth as confirmed in last week’s labour market statistics?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: We have raised the minimum wage every single year we have been in office. We have made sure that we have got employment reforms—the starting out wage and the 90-day trial. We know that the policies of the other party on that side go in exactly the opposite direction. For example its increase in the minimum wage overnight to $15 would see 5000 people out of jobs. What we also know is that we have 2.5 percent average wage growth; weekly earnings are much more than inflation. Strong results under this Government.Andrew Little: Can he confirm that the increase in the labour cost index which measures the change in the price of labour is 1.6 percent—about the same as the rise in the cost of living—meaning that the value of wages did not improve at all last year?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: We know that that is not the figure that his party used when it was in Government and for very good reasons. Under the quarterly employment survey numbers it is very clear that average weekly earnings rose 2.5 percent and we have seen inflation go up 1.5 percent so that means real Kiwis are earning more real money. [Interruption] I know the member does not like that. I appreciate he is channelling Arthur Scargill. But on this side of the House we see wages going up and more people 84000 more people in jobs.Andrew Little: Does he think his measures to curtail collective bargaining are consistent with his claim that wages are rising and his aim to raise them; if not why is he pushing ahead with that measure despite receiving more than 10000 submissions opposed to the changes?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: We are making law fairer more flexible and pro-jobs. I appreciate bargaining has a part to it. But actually wars of attrition between parties which ultimately are fruitless do not do employers or workers any favours. On this side of the House we know that the 90-day trial period the starting-out wage and various other reforms we have made are making a real difference and the proof is in the pudding with 2.5 percent weekly average wage increases higher than inflation and last year 84000 more people in jobs.Andrew Little: In light of growing expressions of concern from workers such as those at Steel and Tube and the Canterbury District Health Board who cannot get a decent pay rise except with industrial action and from the growing army of chief executives such as those from the The Warehouse and the BNZ who complain that their pay is too much does he accept that income inequality in New Zealand is now intolerably extreme and what is he going to do about it?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I appreciate that averages are average for a reason and there are still people doing it tough. But the member opposite is denying the objective facts that actually his party relied on in office—earnings rising 2.5 percent a percentage point higher than inflation and 84000 more jobs. So that there are more real people getting more real money under this Government.