Minimum Wage Amendment Bill Government Bill As reported from the committee of the whole House This Bill was formerly part of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill as reported from the Social Services Committee. The committee of the whole House has amended the Bill and divided it into the following bills: o The Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Repeal Bill, comprising Parts 1 and 2 o This Bill, comprising Part 3. Hon Ruth Dyson Minimum Wage Amendment Bill Government Bill Contents 1 Title 2 Commencement . . . . . 12 Principal Act amended 13 New section 8 substituted 8 Minimum wage exemption permit 14 Consequential amendments and revocations 15 Transitional provision for under-rate workers' permits The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: 1 Title This Act is the Minimum Wage Amendment Act 2007. 2 Commencement This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent. . . . . . 12 Principal Act amended This Part amends the Minimum Wage Act 1983. 13 New section 8 substituted Section 8 is repealed and the following section substituted: "8 Minimum wage exemption permit "(1) A Labour Inspector may issue a minimum wage exemption permit to a worker if the Inspector is satisfied that--- "(a) the worker is significantly and demonstrably {{impaired}} [[limited]] by a disability {{from}} [[in]] carrying out the requirements of his or her work; and "(b) any reasonable accommodations that could have been made to facilitate carrying out the requirements of the work have been considered by the employer and the worker; and "(c) it is reasonable and appropriate to grant the permit. New ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(1A) To avoid doubt, nothing in subsection (1)(b) limits or affects any legal obligations that the employer has towards a worker. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Struck out ======================================================================= ======================================================================= "(2) A permit remains in force for the period stated in the permit. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= New ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(2) A permit--- "(a) comes into force on the date it is issued or any other date as stated in the permit; and "(b) remains in force for the period stated in the permit. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(3) While a permit remains in force, the rate of wages stated in the permit is taken to be the minimum rate of wages prescribed under this Act for the worker. New ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(3A) A Labour Inspector may revoke a permit at any time if the Inspector considers it is no longer reasonable and appropriate for the permit to remain in force. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(4) In this section, disability has the same meaning as in section 21(1)(h) of the Human Rights Act 1993." Struck out ======================================================================= ======================================================================= 14 New section 15 added The principal Act is amended by adding the following section: "15 Revocation The Minimum Wage Regulations 1946 (SR 1946/36) are revoked." ======================================================================= ======================================================================= New ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Consequential amendments and revocations (1) Sections 56(1A) and 63(6) of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (2000 No 24) are consequentially amended by omitting "an under-rate worker's permit" and substituting in each case "a minimum wage exemption permit". (2) The Minimum Wage Regulations 1946 (SR 1946/36) are revoked. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- New ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Transitional provision for under-rate workers' permits An under-rate worker's permit granted under the principal Act and in force immediately before the commencement of Part 3 of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Act 2004 continues in force and is to be treated as if it had been issued under section 8 of the principal Act as inserted by the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Act 2004. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislative history 20 March 2007 Divided from Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill (Bill 138-1) as Bill 138-2B