22 July 2002

Greens Want Work Done On 35 Hour Working Week

The Greens want a high-level Commission Into The Future Of Work to look at the possibility of a 35 hour working week, Green Employment Spokesperson Sue Bradford said today.

The CTU have released a report today finding that families across New Zealand are under mounting pressure as parents work longer hours, often without being paid for the extra time.

"The Greens agree with the CTU that New Zealand families and communities are under too much pressure as parents work longer and longer hours for the same pay," said Ms Bradford.

"This is why the Greens are so committed to four weeks annual leave for all workers and why we want a Commission to look at the future of work, including the possibility of a 35 hour working week."

Ms Bradford said the time available for parents to spend with their families had been eroded too far over the last 15 years and the Greens were committed to restoring a healthy balance between work and family.

Along with advocating for a 35 hour working week and pushing for four weeks of holidays the Greens will:

* Introduce legislation (along the lines of recent UK legislation) which will encourage greater flexibility in working hours;
* Identify initiatives to encourage a child friendly culture in workplaces, businesses and public places wherever possible;
* Investigate tax incentives for employers who provide facilities and equipment for the purpose of making their work place child friendly. "In the next parliament the Greens will continue to push hard to get a better deal for families. We have well developed policy to achieve this and today's CTU report throws more weight yet behind the movement for reform," said Ms Bradford. "It is reports like this, and Labour's refusal to implement its own policy and allow four weeks of annual leave, that shows why there must be a strong Green presence in the next parliament and why Labour cannot be allowed to govern alone."

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