The Government is to increase the adult minimum wage from $14.25 to $14.75 from 1 April of this year.
The starting-out and training hourly minimum wages will increase by 40 cents to $11.80 an hour, as this is set at 80 percent of the adult minimum wage.
The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Michael Woodhouse, said in setting the wage rates the Government had moved to protect low paid workers whilst ensuring jobs are not lost.
He said that the increase was appropriate in the current market and economic conditions, and balances the needs of both employees and businesses.
Mr Woodhouse said the increases would directly benefit 115,000 workers and increase wages throughout the economy by $60 million per year.
The rise represents a 3.5 percent increase, compared with the annual rate of inflation of 0.8 percent.
