Complexity and cost of Holidays Act slammed

Thursday, 16 September 2004, 2:23 pm
Press Release: Hospitality Association of New Zealand

16 September 2004

Holidays revellers should be prepared to pay a hefty premium for dining out over Christmas and New Year. The costs and complexity of the new Holidays Act, which kicks in for the first time this year, will result in fewer staff being employed on public holidays and fewer premises opening.

With effectively eight public holidays this Christmas instead of four many operators are expected to remain closed.

“Quite simply, operators not imposing substantial surcharges will lose big money,” says Bruce Robertson, HANZ Chief Executive.

He told the Select Committee considering the Holidays Amendment Bill that the Association had developed a 22-page resource for its members to assist in clarifying employee entitlements.

“This is far from the simplification promised when the Act was amended, and it’s obvious that the actual cost and the compliance cost is raising serious economic issues for some businesses this year.

Mr Robertson called on the Select Committee to provide an option for employees to cash up the day in lieu and remove the Mondayising component which doesn’t work for a seven day industry with many part-time staff.

“There will be a wide spread negative outcome if a common sense practical solution cannot be found to provide employees and employers with more choices so that patrons can have more eating and drinking options this Christmas/New Year,” Mr Robertson said.

ENDS

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