The Government's being urged not to go ahead with its minimum wage rise next year

The Labour Party promised to bump-up the wage to 20 dollars an hour during its re-election campaign.

It's hoped the move will help low-income earners who've been hard-hit by the pandemic's financial fall-out.

But ANZ Economist Sharon Zollner says the employers have been affected too.

She says you have to question the ability of the retail, hospitality and tourism sector to pay higher wages.