Ratepayers to Fund Minimum Wage for Contractors
www.stuff.co.nz...
Hamilton City Council is to extend the minimum wage of $20 per hour to all staff employed by the organisation’s contractors. The cost is unknown but the best guess is between $258,000 to $859,000 per year to be funded through rates or through debt.
www.legislation.govt.nz...
Section 10 of Local Government Act details the purpose of local government is—
• to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
• to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.
How is the living wage (above the Government’s) most cost effective for households and businesses?
and
How is it on behalf of communities?
Good-quality, of the performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—
• efficient;
• effective; and
• appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
How is the living wage to contractors efficient, effective and appropriate for the ratepayer particularly in these austere and worrying times?
Those who voted for this lose sight of representative responsibility and fail to represent the residents and ratepayers who took the effort to vote and in fact all of Hamilton residents.
Some contractors do not contact solely to Council, their employees also work at other locations for other contracts.
How is this to be policed?
Oh that’s right it is only other people’s money – watch out for the spend-up on ‘nice to haves’ during the annual plan.
Buckle up it is going to be a rough ride, particularly in these austere and worrying times.
Lest we forget...
On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.
Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
-
91.5% Yes
-
8.2% No
-
0.4% Other - I'll share below!
Did you submit on the city council's long-term plan?
Hamiltonians have spoken out on the council’s budget plans with the city’s massive proposed rates hike a lightning rod for residents already struggling with rising costs.
With more than 3000 submissions landing on the Hamilton City Council’s Draft Long Term Plan the hot topic is unsurprisingly the proposed 19.9% rise, which itself lands in a cost of living crisis and limping economy.