Australian Bargaining Rules Give Workers an Edge Over New Zealand

New Zealand's wage growth is lagging behind inflation, with a recent Statistics NZ report showing salary and wage rates grew by just 2% in the year to June, compared to a 4.1% increase in inflation.

This trend has been ongoing since the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a decrease in incomes for Kiwi workers.

Australia's situation is more favorable, with a narrower gap between wage growth and inflation - 3.2% versus 3.8% respectively.

One explanation for this difference may lie in Australia's collective bargaining regulations, which offer advantages to both workers and employers compared to New Zealand.