Mike Treen

The signs of a new capitalist crisis of overproduction and its attendant financial crises and world recession are accelerating. US inventories are increasing significantly, German industrial production is declining, car industry layoffs are hitting all parts of the globe.

Either the minister was being disingenuous or his department has sabotaged his genuine offer of help.

Which is it, Iain?

Instead of allowing more permanent residents in the government has continued to allow bosses to import labour on a temporary work visa. The number of these remains around 250,000 a year – yes, a quarter of a million a year. This has created a pool of at least 150,000 workers here at any one time on a temporary visa.

Restaurant Brands Ltd (RBL), is asking staff to authorise the deduction of so-called overpayments from the annual leave money they owe their current and former staff. 

Other companies have paid staff back for the 15 years back to the holidays Act law change in 2003 that seems to have created the incentive for companies to simply ignore what was required by law which has led to massive underpayments for workers.

What this survey has underscored is that the big majority of working people are struggling to survive against the relentless pressure of rising housing, energy and other basic costs.

Since annual voting on the US blockade of Cuba began at the United Nations in the 1990s, the vast majority of member-nations have supported the proposal that it cease immediately.

I used to feel a bit sorry for Minister of Housing Phil Twyford being blamed for failing to deliver something he can’t control – the market price for housing. When Labour was elected the market had already driven prices to the unaffordable level for the vast majority.But when he started taking Housing NZ land that should be used for more state housing to achieve that goal he became another privatiser of state assets.