Barely surviving on minimum wage

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Barely surviving on minimum wage

3News NZ

Emma Endemann

Emma Endemann

$13.50 an hour is $385 a week after tax.

That's what single mum Emma Endemann earns after tax each week as a cleaner on the minimum wage, to support her three schoolchildren.

It's not enough to make ends meet so Emma’s son Peniata goes to work every day after school to bring home more money for school uniforms, clothing and extras.

As a comparison, in Australia the minimum wage is $15.51 Australian dollars - or more than NZ$20. Here it's $13.50.

So tomorrow the Service and Food Workers' Union launches a campaign for all New Zealanders to be paid a "living wage" rather than a minimum wage. The union says a living wage should allow workers to earn a decent wage to avoid the stress of poverty.

Over the next three nights Campbell Live will meet three families surviving on the minimum wage.

Watch Lachlan Forsyth’s report on the Endemann family.

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Comments

9/09/2012 11:33:40 p.m.

Jacob wrote:

We hear you Emma, stay strong girl. All I can suggest is get to know your enemy, goto zeitgeist.com and watch the documentaries. There are forces working to enslave us all. You aren't alone it's happening across the globe and there is another way.

26/07/2012 4:11:19 p.m.

Emma wrote:

BUT.... it does not state that she is still entitled to working for families tax credits (for a solo mum you are entitled to the full amount when working 20hours) so thats around $148.00 and then there are the WINZ entitlements, you are allowed to earn $100.00 before tax, anything over that you will have a portion deducted from you benefit and there are still supplement entitlements, like accomodation. Stop complaining and see a budgetor

28/05/2012 9:21:24 p.m.

Gosh wrote:

And heres a lesson for all youth. Have higher aspirations in life and plan better for you future.

28/05/2012 6:12:10 p.m.

Kaizoku wrote:

I think this woman is totally awesome!! Whats wrong with you people? First you complain about people sitting on their bums and say that they are just feeding off tax payers money...and when they DO go and find a job you still critise and discriminate anyway?? Everyone with a job (degree or no degree) contribute to our economy..without people like her (cleaners) who will do it? People are opting for qualifications these days but you just keep in mind that without people like her none of our work such as rubbish collection, cleaning of public spaces, factory jobs etc etc will be done. I admire people who do things that I cant do which is cleaning other peoples crap! Thank you for all the hard work you do Emma! We need more people like you. And another note...who said she works 40 hours a week?? it doesnt say anywhere in the article you are just making assumptions!! Dad is not in the picture of course not BUT you dont know her family circumstances and FIY she isnt complaining about anything in this article. Campbell is using this as an example as it portrays the issues that are faced by families who are in a similar situation. Look at the bigger picture...seriously (>_<) And yes I am qualified and I have a degree..working towards my Postgrad and working full time. So i can say that not all people who are qualified like to look down on others...i appreciated what my parents went through in order to provide me with education and a life and that was making sacrifices which is what I see this woman doing with her kids...working hard for their sake not her own. <3

26/05/2012 8:12:14 a.m.

vicky wrote:

remember honey these people are jelous and judgemental they havent been in your shoes

26/05/2012 7:24:29 a.m.

JD wrote:

To bron's comment: If you choose to work a minimum wage instead of getting a further education then that is your choice, and a perfectly okay one. But don't complain when you do not have enough money to support your family (not meaning you specifically, but in general) because that is obviously inevitable if you're on minimum wage. If you wanted to live a stress free (in terms of finance) life, you would obviously aim higher than minimum wage right? Which would usually require some sort of apprenticeship, degree, course qualification etc that sets you above others.

25/05/2012 11:36:25 p.m.

Janet wrote:

Everyone of us has to pay off a student loan, give up at least 3 years of our live (possibly more nowadays) to get a better job so we DONT have to live off minimum wage. Incase some of you dont realise (chad) everyone who goes to work, also have to wake up on cold mornings, not just her. Do we get extra rewards? No, instead our taxes go to people who didnt bother getting an education. If that was their choice, they should live up to the consequences. We should not have to pay for their bad choices. Mum supports us (7 kids) and she has enough money, not because the government rewards her for getting up in the mornings but because she worked a long, hard degree and her work paid off. And that's how it should be. I do not want to pay for other's wrong decisions in life. (ps im currently doing a degree that is going to cost me at least $50,000 JUST on fees (not stationary and living costs etc) and for that, I will receive a reward, which I deserved. And my hard work is a little bit more worthy than "getting up early".

25/05/2012 3:13:30 p.m.

Greg wrote:

The budget put us another 5 years behind Australia. A Labour policy platform for 2014 election win should be that the first $15000 earnt is tax free.
If tax cuts for the rich can stimulate the economy then why cant they for the poor. Oh wait they waste it.

25/05/2012 11:33:42 a.m.

jane wrote:

Good luck Jessica, I do hope you find a job but like many people you may find that you are in a career in which many people have trained and the job competition virtually cancels you out as it does so many people. And good luck with never getting pregnant accidentally. I guess you'll never get the flu, miss a pill, will always take long term contraception even if it disaffects you. What a privileged life you will lead. It is easy to be perfect in foresight.

25/05/2012 11:05:15 a.m.

Deborah wrote:

We run a small cleaning company with most staff just above minimum wage, the problem is to increase wages we would have to increase hourly charge to the customer, there is huge resistance to this by clients as often cleaning work is undervalued and everyone thinks anyone could do it,this is untrue as there is skill required & security issues the cleaners are responsible for. However after paying for vehicles, staff to travel from site to site, gear, maintenance, acc levies, holiday pay and many other costs in running a business wage rates are only reflective of the industry and what the customer will pay. As wages increase the cost has to be passed on to the consumer this applies to fuel, supermarkets, fast food industries etc If minimum wage increases people who receive $14 or $15 now would also want a pay increase to keep above that rate. Where does it stop. Standard of living has changed but lots of this is due to power, mobile phones, fuel costs that we have no ability to change.