More time needed for submissions on employment laws 26.8.10

The Government is not allowing sufficient time for submissions on its far-reaching employment law proposals, said the CTU today. The amendments to the Employment Relations Act and the Holidays Act have been allocated less than three weeks for submissions to be made by 13 and 17 September respectively.

“These are the most significant changes in employment law in 20 years,” said CTU President Helen Kelly. “They will reduce the work rights of every single employee in the country and yet the Government is determined to race them through Parliament without giving the public enough time to consider them and have their say.” 

“They forced through the 90 day fire at will law for small companies under urgency as soon as they were in office, effectively stifling any debate in 2008. Now they seem determined to restrict the room for debate as much as possible with this ridiculous and insulting timescale.”

Kelly said that the union movement would assist anyone who wanted to make their own submission in the limited time available but called on the Government to extend its unreasonable deadline.

The CTU and its affiliates will ensure that as many people as possible are able to make themselves heard by assisting them to make submissions through the Fairness at Work website at www.fairness.org.nz and ask the Select Committee to allow as many as possible to appear to express their opposition to the law changes, including by moving hearings around the country.

For further information contact:

Helen Kelly, President, CTU
04 802 3812 / 021 776 741