National to give workers choice in holidays

Opposition Leader Don Brash says the National Party will give workers choice in their holiday entitlements.

“National will support a statutory minimum of four weeks annual leave, but we will give workers the choice about whether they cash up the extra week, or whether they take the holidays,” says Dr Brash.

From 2007, four weeks annual leave will be guaranteed to all New Zealanders.

“Currently, employers and employees are negotiating contracts in good faith that will include four weeks leave as a minimum requirement.

“Forcing another round of change on business would be costly, and unfair to staff. Instead we want to go a step further than Labour and give employees the opportunity to cash in one week.

“But let’s be clear - this would be a negotiated arrangement initiated by the worker.

”National has said throughout the discussion on minimum annual leave that it was always going to be a trade-off between an extra week’s holiday and extra pay.

“We believe this policy provides the best of both worlds,” says Dr Brash.

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