6. Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Labour
Has he received any reports explaining the gross pay disparities between Air New Zealand staff based in China and in New Zealand, disparities which have led former member Tuariki Delamere to describe the situation as a “flying sweat shop”?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Labour) Link to this
I have not yet received a report from the Department of Labour.
Is he aware that the Shanghai-based Chinese cabin crew members were paid approximately $NZ3.75 an hour; and would he agree with the Maritime Union general secretary, Trevor Hanson, that this is a blatant attack on workers; if not, why not?
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
Can the Minister tell the House whether he has seen any other reports on wage gaps?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
Yes, I have. I have seen a report saying: “We would love to see wages drop.” I have seen subsequent reports explaining that away as, firstly, light-handed, then that person saying he wanted Australian wages to drop, later saying it did not count because it was said at a café, and then saying he had not finished his thought. When none of those things worked, efforts were made to bully the reporter and bully the editor: bully the editor into sacking the reporter. Pressure was put on APN for a clarification, and when the report was all read in the end, it confirmed that John Key had said that.
Keith LockeDoes the Minister think that this example of free trade between Chinese and New Zealand labour within Air New Zealand is an indicator of the savings that may be made by other employers in construction, manufacturing, or the service industry who currently reserve their employment for hard-working Kiwi residents?
Hon Dr Michael CullenHon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I think there is not a plan to take on the process that the Deputy Prime Minister has suggested, but as the member is aware, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website does have the Government framework for incorporating labour-related issues into our free-trade agreements, and I think the member would be a lot better informed if he read it.
Has the Minister read the information from the Service and Food Workers Union that Air New Zealand has offered less money to union workers than it paid to other workers who are doing the same work; and what role can he play in advising Air New Zealand of its obligations to be a good employer?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
No, I have not seen that report, but there are clear processes to follow if the union believes that the airline has breached the Employment Relations Act.
Sue BradfordDoes the Minister think it would be ethical and legal for fishing boats operating within New Zealand waters to pay their crew Chinese wages that are well below our minimum wage; if not, why is it acceptable for a company in which the Government has a majority shareholding to pay its Chinese air crew substantially less than their New Zealand colleagues are paid and well below our minimum wage?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
There is a fundamental gap in the member’s logic. Air New Zealand does not employ these people.
Peter BrownNoting those answers and the remarks attributed to the Minister in the media, can I take it he could well be recommending to his Government colleagues that ambassadors, high commissioners, and other people on Government service working overseas will have their wages and salaries tagged to those paid in the local communities, or local countries, that they are in; or will he insist that they work on the pay scale as determined by New Zealand?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I am tempted to recommend to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that Keith Locke be appointed to India as a third secretary paid at local rates.
Does the Minister agree with the sentiments expressed in yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald, which describes Air New Zealand’s attitude as disgusting in paying more than 30 Chinese workers less than their New Zealand counterparts are paid, particularly as it is 76 percent owned by the Government; and what impact does he think this scandal may have on the Government’s negotiations for a free-trade agreement with China?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
In response to the second part of the question, nil, and to the first part of the question, it just shows that the Sydney Morning Herald is ill-informed, as was Ms Bradford with her earlier supplementary question.