Difficult Times Ahead From Govt. That Doesn't Understand Business

The blow to business confidence delivered by the Employment Relations Act is just the first in a series of batterings that New Zealand businesses will receive in coming months, National Industrial Relations spokesperson Max Bradford said today.

"While today marks the start of the Employment Relations Act, there are many other Government-created problems in store for business, employers and employees.

"This Government knows nothing about economic leadership. And every New Zealander is paying the price with higher costs, falling growth and generally bad feelings among businesses and consumers.

"The lack of vision is being cemented in and combined with the Government's agenda for the next few months.

"Complex fringe benefit taxes, paid parental leave, decisions on parallel importing and the fate of the bungled Radio Spectrum Auction are policies still to come that short-change business.

"Then there's the uncertainty over the Telecommunications Inquiry, research and development policy and export guarantees. All we get is an e-commerce talk-fest and an Auckland business talk-fest.

"This agenda is being delivered against the back-drop of wage pressures, skills shortages, the brain drain, rising input prices, ACC re-nationalisation, the Employment Relations Act and higher personal taxes.

"The Government's economic policies and management of New Zealand has seen investors and New Zealanders fleeing. Businesses and employers cannot turn to this Government for a lead on how to get the economy moving, or for inspiration on how to innovate and create jobs.

"Instead, the Employment Relations Act is a signal of the Government's failure to understand business, and there is more of the same to come."

Ends

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