Workers are getting the smallest slice of the economic pie in this country in decades, the Council of Trade Unions says.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Statistics New Zealand data shows in the year to March, the country's two million salary and wage earners received just under 49 percent of the nation's income, compared to 59 percent in 1981.

The council said if workers were receiving the same return for their labour that was considered fair a generation ago, then, on average, they would be about $11,500 better off today.

Council secretary Sam Huggard said one of the main causes was the dismantling of collective wage bargaining.

The new government has signalled that it is willing to address the issue, he said.

Labour has said it wants to introduce fair pay agreements in selective industries, that would create industry-wide minimum standards.