The CTU is calling on the government to shun Roger Douglas's youth minimum wage rates bill because it is discriminatory and will do nothing to ease unemployment,

The bill, which was drawn from the members' ballot in Parliament this week, would repeal the abolition of youth rates by Labour and the Greens in 2008.

"The minimum wage in this country is already low and expecting any group to work for less than $12.75 per hour is grossly unfair," said Kelly.

"There is also no reason why two people doing the same job should be paid different rates simply because of an age difference. The removal of youth rates in 2008 was a major step forward in improving human rights for this age group and in improving their standard of living.

"Unions campaigned in 2007 to have youth rates abolished and we will fight any attempt to reinstate them. The evidence has been there for years that lower youth rates have no net effect on the creation of job opportunities. The existence of a youth rate will mean that employers will displace older workers when a minimum waged position is available. Many employers that employ large numbers of young people have adapted well to the new law and in fact many have even removed the training rate from their employment agreements. Employers have moved on, Roger Douglas should as well." 

"We want the Government to reject this unfair Bill and instead implement policies that stimulate the economy including job creation measures that help young people get into work."

On Thursday the Minister of Labour appeared to back away from earlier support for reinstating youth rates in a reply to a written question from Labour MP Darien Fenton.