MEDIA RELEASE: Minimum Wage Increases Deal Another Blow

12 February 2022

Yesterday’s announcement that the minimum wage will increase by 6% to $21.20 in April is just another blow for clubs, says Clubs New Zealand.

“We have all been struggling under the incredibly restrictive Alert Level System and now Covid Protection Framework in excess of two years and the stark reality is that the reserves are empty”, says Chief Executive Larry Graham.

“There is nothing left to fund these increases.”

“The club industry along with the wider hospitality industry is crying out for help following the discontinuation of the Wage Subsidy and Business Resurgence Payment, so to slap an additional cost onto struggling businesses at this time is demoralising and demonstrates to our members that the decision makers are not willing to listen.”

“Despite now being able to open, the capacity limits, seated and separated rules, prohibitions on sports and fear is keeping customers away and our clubs are running at a loss under the Red Setting.”

“The club industry wants nothing more than to see the wages of our workforce lifted, and this will be an important step alongside training and development, once restrictions are eased and the peak of Omicron has passed.  Until then these mandatory cost increases are nothing more than a kick in the guts.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, contact: larry@clubsnz.com

Clubs New Zealand National Office 0800 425 827

www.clubsnz.org.nz

Clubs New Zealand Incorporated (Clubs New Zealand) is a not-for-profit, member led association representing more than 300 clubs around the country including Community Clubs, Cosmopolitan Clubs, Workingmen’s Club, Sports Clubs, and Returned Servicemen’s Associations (RSAs).  Collectively our clubs employ more than 3,000 people and are a home away from home to over 300,000 club members.  To find out more visit www.clubsnz.org.nz