NZ workers lowly paid - OECD

New Zealand workers are paid nearly 12% less than in other OECD countries. According to the latest OECD report, NZ workers are in the bottom third of developed countries. Compared to Australia, for example, the average net (i.e. take-home) pay is only three-quarters of what Australian workers get. Furthermore, the cost of employing NZ workers is less for employers here because the 'tax wedge' part of the employment costs that goes in taxes to the government is unusually low - bettered only by the employers situation in Korea and Mexico.