Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

Farmers workers pledge opposition to labour-hire

Distribution workers at Farmers are taking a stand in solidarity with their labour-hire colleagues who do not receive the protection of the same terms and conditions of permanent work. Some labour-hire employees have been working at the distribution centre for up to five years, doing the same jobs as their full time permanent colleagues (labour-hire employees work for a third party and are not directly employed by the company they work for).

84 members met at the Farmers distribution centre in Auckland today to make a commitment to ending labour-hire exploitation at their site, and to share in the frustrations with the company keeping labour-hire workers on for far too long.

FIRST Union delegate Moli Sáu says some labour-hire temps have been at the job far too long to be temporary.

“They should be made permanent and get paid the same money as us – they are doing the same work.”

Ms Sáu says the workers need secure jobs just like anyone else.

“How are they supposed to show they have secure work to get a rental house, or to, for example, hire purchase a washing machine? Labour-hire makes life really difficult for these workers.”

Organiser Mark Muller says permanent employment law is there for a reason.

“It’s so people have secure work hours, and it encourages businesses to recognise experience amongst a raft of other obligations. To not offer permanent work to these employees is to avoid the law when in fact they are permanent employees.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.