新西兰英语 498 Pay for working at night

 　　Listen to February 18th 2011 to hear the background to this.

　　In February this year, workers who care for intellectually¹ disabled people, won their case for better night pay. The court said that they should be paid the minimum² wage for sleeping at night in a home for disabled people. IHC said they did not have enough money to pay more. The government said there was not enough money to pay more. The union representing the workers planned to go to court to get this money. The union has been fighting this case for the last four years.

　　Today the government said there will be $90m available for these workers to receive the minimum wage for night work. This will be phased³ in during the next two years, from 50% now to 100% later. There will be another $27.5m for back pay from July 2005 at 50% of the minimum wage. Workers will also get 50% of the minimum wage from now until July next year. From July next year they will get 75% of the minimum wage and from July 2013, they will get 100% of the minimum wage.

　　It is possible IHC and other employers⁴ can find more money to reach that 100% sooner.

　　Question

　　If the government agrees these workers should receive the minimum wage, why will it only pay 50% at this stage?

　　What about pay for babysitters? Is this a similar situation – a responsible job, maybe have to give up going out with friends? What are the differences between babysitting and caring for a number of intellectually disabled people?

　　The Labour Party said that intellectually disabled people do not have a voice because they don’t vote. Do you think this is the reason that we don’t know much about their care?

1 intellectually   

adv.知性上，智力上

参考例句：

• The child is developing in every way, morally, intellectually and physically. 这孩子德、智、体样样都好。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He had never learned that a person might be emotionally--instead of intellectually--great. 他从来就不知道一个人可能会在感情上很伟大，而不是在知识上。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

2 minimum   

adj.最低的，最小的；n.最小量，最低限度

参考例句：

• What is the minimum price?最低价是多少？
• Today's minimum temperature is 10℃.今天的最低气温是10℃。

3 phased   

adj.定相的

参考例句：

• The modernization of the industry was phased over at 20-year period. 工业现代化分20年逐步实现。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The company has phased in a series of new production plans. 这家公司已采用了一系列新的生产计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 employers   

雇主( employer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws. 雇主有义务遵行健康安全法。