Wayne Mapp MP
National Party Industrial Relations Spokesman
31 March 2005

Greens meddling in workplace

A private member’s bill compelling employers to negotiate flexible working hours with parents of children under five is another example of Green Party meddling, says National’s Industrial Relations spokesman, Wayne Mapp.

Sue Kedgley’s Employment Relations (Flexible Working Hours) Amendment Bill was selected from the ballot and is scheduled to be voted on next week.

“The Green Party has never understood that since the 1980s New Zealand has had a flexible economy where employers and employees have the flexibility to negotiate their own arrangements,” says Dr Mapp.

“Dictating solutions is not the answer.

“In fact, it could potentially create an environment where employers won’t hire women, because they are more likely to require flexible working hours. Employers could perceive a very real disadvantage in hiring women.

“The bill will also remove any advantage small businesses have over big businesses in offering more flexible working hours.

“Small businesses often cannot afford to pay as much as bigger companies, but can offer more flexible working hours as an advantage to prospective employees. Under this bill they will lose that advantage.

“This is just another Green Party approach to the world, just like Sue Kedgley’s obsession with giant Easter eggs.

“People should be allowed to get on with their lives, with employers and employees developing their own agreements without this dictation.

“If Labour supports this bill it will be proof of the dark future facing New Zealanders – a Labour-Greens coalition of meddlesome government,” says Dr Mapp.

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