KEY POINTS:
The debate on migrant workers continues following a report that New Zealanders are not prepared to work for minimum wages.
Service and Food Workers Union Assistant Secretary Neville Donaldson said while employers were claiming there was a shortage of New Zealand workers, improvements in wages and conditions had not been made in several years due to many factors.
One of these was the ability of employers to argue a labour shortage and a need for migrant workers to be employed.
"This is not an anti-migrant worker debate, it is a debate around fairness in the workplace and valuing workers as a whole," Mr Donaldson said.
He added: "There are not enough New Zealand workers prepared to work for minimum wage or close to it."
He said history had shown that in time of labour market shortages, workers and their unions made significant progress in improving wages and conditions.
"New Zealand workers wages have remained level with the rate of inflation and migrant workers are offered wages and conditions that are at the lowest level in the industry concerned," he said.
Mr Donaldson said it was not only New Zealand workers who deserved better conditions, but migrant workers also.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
