Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

6 May 2019 PĀNUI PĀPĀHO
MEDIA STATEMENT

Employment law changes coming into effect today will restore protections for working New Zealanders, strengthen the role of collective bargaining, and promote fair wages and conditions, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.

“The Government is committed to building a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy that delivers good jobs, decent work conditions and fair wages,” says Iain Lees-Galloway

“Late last year we passed legislation to provide additional protections and rights for workers. The most noticeable change coming in today for many workers and employers is the return of the right to set rest and meal breaks, and the end of 90-day trials in businesses with 20 or more employees.”

Key changes coming into effect today include:
• reinstating prescribed meal and rest breaks
• strengthening collective bargaining and union rights
• restoring protections for vulnerable workers, such as those in the cleaning and catering industries, regardless of the size of their employer
• limiting 90-day trials to businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

“The Government believes everyone deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and these changes will help achieve that. They strike the right balance, providing strong safeguards and rights to workers, while maintaining certainty and flexibility for employers.”

Iain Lees-Galloway today also released an updated Code of Good Faith in Collective Bargaining, as agreed by business, union and government representatives.

“The Code of Good Faith gives employers and unions guidance on good faith, and is used by the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court. The changes in this latest version, though largely technical, will ensure consistency between the current code and the updated law,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

Further information on the changes is available on the Employment New Zealand website.
The updated Code of Good Faith in Collective Bargaining.

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