Workplaces policy about flexibility and fairness

National’s Workplaces policy reflects National’s continuing and strong commitment to flexibility and choice in the labour market, as well as an increased focus on health and safety, says National Party Labour Spokesman Simon Bridges.

“We believe a flexible workforce supported by fair employment law is critical for supporting a productive economy, and will continue to make improvements to employment law to achieve this.

“Flexible measures we have introduced as a Government – such as the 90-day trial period – have enabled businesses to be more confident about taking on new staff. A third of employers who used the trial periods would not have hired new staff without it.

“National will continue to promote fairness and flexibility in the labour market. We will pass the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which will make it easier to establish flexible working arrangements and improve collective bargaining.

“We will also strengthen the enforcement of New Zealand’s minimum employment standards. Employment standards are not optional and National is committed to stamping out dodgy and deliberate employment breaches,” says Mr Bridges.

“National will extend paid parental leave to 18 weeks, increase eligibility, and make the system fairer – reflecting modern working arrangements and family structures.

“National has set in motion the most significant changes in health and safety at work in more than two decades, and will continue to implement these changes, helping to ensure we meet our target of reducing New Zealand’s workplace death and serious injury toll by 25 per cent by 2020.

“Our approach is about working smarter and targeting high risk. We believe good health and safety also makes good business sense – it is an investment in productivity and reputation.”

National has established WorkSafe New Zealand – the stand-alone health and safety regulator – and boosted its funding by $30 million to strengthen education and enforcement.

“Our Workplaces policy is about supporting businesses to grow while ensuring workers’ rights are protected.”

National’s Workplaces Policy is available at: http://ntnl.org.nz/YGVgTO

ends

© Scoop Media