MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
From 1st April 2025, the adult minimum wage in New Zealand will rise to $23.50 per hour, up from $23.15. At the same time, the starting-out and training minimum wage will also increase to $18.80 an hour from $18.52.
All Employers are urged to review their pay rates promptly to avoid breaching the new regulations. Here are some essential steps to ensure you have everything covered:
- Inform Your Team: Communicate with employees affected by the minimum wage adjustments. Sending a formal notice, like a letter or email (variation of employment contract), detailing the new rates is crucial.
- Audit Payroll Systems: Ensure your payroll systems are primed to accommodate the updated rates. Verify settings for accuracy, particularly for employees transitioning from starting-out or training wages to the adult rate. Tidy up any employment agreements (contracts) that are not current or you do not have one in place.
- Consider Pay Relativity: Evaluate potential impacts on internal wage relativity (for example, how employees are paid compared to each other) and external benchmarking (such us how your pay rates compare to others in your industry or sector). Adjustments may be necessary to maintain equity among employees.
- Update Budget Forecasts: Incorporate projected cost increases into short and medium-term budget plans. This proactive approach aids in managing higher wage and holiday pay liabilities effectively. See employee cost calculator.
- Understand Minimum Wage Obligations: Familiarise yourself with the details around the minimum wage. Remember, these regulations apply to all hours worked unless both parties agree to a higher rate in the employment agreement. The increase also relates to employees paid with a salary or piece rates or commission.
Furthermore, it’s essential to grasp the specifics surrounding different wage categories:
- Adult minimum wage: Applies to employees aged 16 and over, excluding starting-out workers or trainees.
- Starting-out wage: Relevant for workers aged 16 or 17 with less than six months’ continuous employment, or aged 18 or 19 with prior social security benefits.
- Training minimum wage: Pertains to employees aged 20 and over undergoing recognised industry training to become qualified.
- There is no minimum wage for employees aged under 16 but all other employment rights and entitlements still apply.
OTHER 1ST APRIL CHANGES
From 1st April 2025, the employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) threshold will increase to align with the personal income tax threshold changes effective from the 31st July 2024.
What is the change?
As of 1st April, and if you use payroll software, you will need to check that you have the most up to date version of software from your provider, otherwise you may not be calculating ESCT correctly.
If you manually calculate the ESCT, then the PAYE deduction tables – IR340 and IR341 are expected to be updated on the IRD website the week commencing 24th March. You will need to refer to those tables for pays starting 1st April 2025.
Other changes
Any other annual rate increases which take effect on 1st April 2025 (for example the ACC levy rate) will also be reflected in the most up to date version of both your payroll software, as well as the PAYE deduction tables – IR340 and IR341, available online at the IRD.
More information can be found at: https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax-changes
For further guidance or clarification, please reach out to us directly on 07 885 1022.