22 June 2008

NZ First Pushed For More Worker Protection

New Zealand First says casual and temporary workers desperately need the extra protection to be provided by proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act.

The changes, negotiated by Deputy Leader Peter Brown, were announced by Minister of Labour Trevor Mallard today.

The proposed legislative changes clarify employment relationships. The changes also strengthen the rights of employees in a variety of different situations and extend some interpretative powers to labour inspectors.

Mr Brown said that casual and temporary workers are given little employment protection under the existing systems and that they also tend to be the lowest paid.

“New Zealand First has achieved higher minimum wages and is now working on getting more protection for vulnerable groups of workers.

“This is all about a fair return for a fair day’s work and treating workers like human beings instead of disposable industrial components.

“We are delighted to finally see some progress. New Zealand First has been pushing for added protection for casual workers for several years now, and at long last something is about to happen,” said Mr Brown.

ENDS

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