Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery (Agriculture) Convention, 1951 (No. 99) - New Zealand (Ratification: 1952)

The Committee notes the comments made by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) concerning the application of the Convention. For the most part, these comments refer to the fixing of minimum wages in general and thus relate principally to Convention No. 26. Regarding agriculture, the NZCTU raises specific concerns about enforcement and maintains that the one-to-one work relationships, deduction for lodgings and the problem of isolation call for particular measures in this sector. It also points out that the prevalence of piecework in horticulture is often designed to avoid paying minimum wages.

The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report any observations it may wish to make on the comments forwarded by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. In particular, the Committee would appreciate receiving additional information on how it is ensured in practice that allowances in kind, such as board and lodging, are fairly valued as required by Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee would also be grateful to the Government for continuing to supply, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form, detailed information on the practical application of the Convention, including available statistics on the number of inspection visits, the penalties imposed, and the wage amounts recovered through enforcement action.