Protest to mark minimum wage increase tomorrow

The minimum wage will tomorrow increase by 25c to $12.75p an hour and low-paid workers plan to mark the occasion with an "April 1 Fool's Day" protest.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson announced the 2 percent increase in January saying it struck a balance between ensuring a fair wage and not discouraging businesses from taking on new staff.

The increase was met with derision by union representatives.

Unite Union, which organises workers in fast food, cinemas, hotels and other low-paying industries, plan to roll "New Zealand's largest 25c coin" (with a diameter of about 1.5m) through Auckland to Prime Minster John Key's house in Parnell.

The protesters will stop off at stores where low-paid workers will be asked to sign the coin and add a message for Mr Key.

"This April 1, we're asking Who's Fooling Who?" Unite campaigns coordinator Joe Carolan said.

"25 cents won't pay the rent, and it won't make a dent on rising costs and inflation for 100,000 of the lowest paid workers. Nine cents of it will already be eaten up by additional tax and increased ACC levies.

"If John Key thinks we're fools this April 1 he might be in for a rude surprise. 150,000 registered voters have signed our petition to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour."

Mr Carolan said there were more than 350,000 workers in New Zealand earning less than $15 an hour.