Minimum Wage and laws relating to teenagers.
The minimum wage applies to all paid employees 16 years-of-age and older, although there are different rates if your employee is 16 or 17 and is new to the workforce or if they are completing training.
For anyone under 16 there are no minimum wage laws (assumption is you can be working full time as legally you still have to be at school!) and an employer are allowed to make employment decisions based on age appropriateness of jobs. Note there are certain roles someone aged 15 or less is unable to undertake, such as no night shifts.
No-one under 16 can work during school hours or, after 10pm and before 6am.
Current minimum wage rates
The minimum wage rates are reviewed every year. (Latest update 1st April 2018)
The current adult minimum wage rates (before tax) that apply for employees aged 16 or over and the minimum rates that apply to starting-out workers, and employees on the training minimum wage (before tax), are:
| Type of minimum wage | Per hour | 8 hour day | 40 hour week | 80 hour fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $16.50 | $132.00 | $660.00 | $1,320.00 |
| Starting-out | $13.20 | $105.60 | $528.00 | $1056.00 |
| Training | $13.20 | $105.60 | $528.00 | $1056.00 |
Source:- https://www.employment.govt.nz/hours-and-wages/pay/minimum-wage/minimum-wage-rates/
Employees have to be paid at least the minimum hourly wage rate for every hour worked.
The adult minimum wage
The adult minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and over who aren’t starting-out workers or trainees, and all employees who are involved in supervising or training other employees.
This is the minimum wage that is most widely used by Kiwi businesses of all shapes and sizes.
The starting-out wage
The starting-out wage applies solely to workers entering the workforce for the first time.
Starting-out workers are:
• 16 and 17-year-old employees who haven’t yet completed six months of continuous employment with their current employer.
• 18 and 19-year-old employees who’ve been paid a specified social security benefit for six months or more, and who haven’t yet completed six months continuous employment with any employer since they started being paid a benefit. Once they have completed six months continuous employment with a single employer, they’ll no longer be a starting-out worker, and need to be paid at least the adult minimum wage rate.
• 16 to 19-year-old employees who’re required by their employment agreement to undertake industry training for at least 40 credits a year to become qualified.
The training minimum wage
The training minimum wage applies to employees aged 20 years or over who’re completing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits in order to become qualified.
Youth Age Restrictions on Dangerous Work
If you are under 15 year old, there are places where you can’t work.
These restrictions also apply to people under 15 visiting the workplace. They don’t apply to any areas if the employee works at all times in an office in that area, or in any part of that area used only for selling goods or services. They don’t apply to visitors who are under direct adult supervision, on a guided tour or who are in areas accessible to the public. No-one under 15 can work if:
• Goods are being prepared or made for sale:
• Any construction work is being done:
• Any logging or tree-felling work is being done:
• The work involves machinery. This includes using or cleaning any machine, powered tool or appliance:
• Any other work is being done in that area that is likely to harm them:
• This doesn’t apply if at all times they work in the office or in any area used only to sell goods or services.
No-one under 15 can:
• Drive or ride on a tractor, implement, mobile plant or other vehicles.
• Operate machinery.
• Lift heavy loads or perform any other work that is likely to injure their health.
There is an exemption for agricultural work, where the young person is over 13 years old and:
• is not an employee and:
• has been, or is being, trained in the safe use of a tractor or any implement that is attached to or drawn by the tractor.