Holidays Upgrade Long Overdue

"The upgrading of the Holidays Bill is long overdue and there is a groundswell of support for four weeks annual leave," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

The CTU presented its submission on the Bill, on behalf of more than 300,000 workers, to the transport and industrial relations select committee today.

"The present Holidays Act hasn't been substantially changed since the 1940's and the Bill presented to Parliament is the product of more than two years of joint work by the CTU, Business New Zealand, and the Government," Ross Wilson said

"While the Bill as introduced is not perfect, it reflects an unprecedented level of consensus on an issue which was dropped as a political hot potato in the 1990s."

The only substantial issue left unresolved is when four weeks annual leave should be introduced into law for all New Zealanders.

"The CTU has accepted the responsibility to put the case for four weeks annual leave to the select committee on behalf of the minority of New Zealanders who do not yet enjoy the minimum that all Australian workers have enjoyed for years," Ross Wilson said.

"The CTU is confident that the evidence presented, and the growing groundswell of public support, will ensure that New Zealanders won't have to wait much longer to catch up with our Aussie cousins."