Cook
Islands Regulatory Environment
Labour
regulation in the Cook Islands is very light.
Labour relations are regulated by the Industrial
and Labour Ordinance 1964. Most pay bargaining
is carried out directly between employers and
employees. According to the Cook Islands Development
Investment Board, there is a statutory minimum
wage of NZD5 per hour, with the private sector
generally paying above the minimum rate. The average
weekly earnings of private sector employees range
between NZD200 - NZD300.
In
2004, the Cabinet approved the establishment of
a task force to study the issues relating to an
increase in the minimum wage rate to NZD7 per
hour. By late 2011, an increase in the minimum
wage had not yet been decided.
Cook Islands
Work Permits
The
Entry, Residence and Departure Act 1977 states
that anyone other than a Cook Islands citizen
or permanent resident who wishes to live and work
on the Islands must first obtain a work and residence
permit. An application for a work and residence
permit can now be made online.
Work
permits have traditionally been issued quite freely
except in certain activities which are reserved
for Cook Islanders, including copra production,
harvesting of reef and lagoon products, small
retailing and garment manufacture.
A
business or employer can apply for a work permit
on behalf of an expatriate employee. As a rule,
a permit is issued for a year, and is renewable
on application by the employer. The work permit
is tied to the applicant's employer and is not
transferable to another employment.
In
February 2008, the Entry, Residence and Departure
Act was amended with regard to the granting of
permanent residence .
Under
the updated legislation, the granting of up to
650 PR certificates was permitted, 150 more than
the previous limit of 500.
The
amendment also required applicants not only to
be of "good character" but to have a
proven record of having made a "significant
positive contribution to or investment in the
Cook Islands in terms of skills, expertise, community
work or financial investment."
There
was also a new seperate category allowing unlimited
number of PR certificates to be granted to those
married to Cook Islanders or PRs, as long as they
have been married for no less than five years.
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