January 17, 2007

EMA should get facts straight - EPMU

The Employers and Manufacturers Association’s ‘end of year employment survey’ can not be taken seriously due to its flawed methodology, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

The survey is based on a self-selected sample of employers who belong to the EMA, which means it is skewed heavily towards those who see personal grievances as a major issue and have taken the effort to join an employers’ lobby group.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says the EMA is using its flawed statistics to promote a political agenda.

“The EMA are not numerically illiterate. They will be well aware of the major sampling errors in their work, and the fact they have chosen to publish it regardless shows their political intentions this year.

“We expect New Zealanders’ work rights, including personal grievances, will come under increasing attack from the National Party and business lobby groups as the election nears, but they would have more credibility if they engaged in facts rather than spin.

“New Zealanders have a right to expect fairness at work and for the law to provide protection against arbitrary dismissal, regardless of whether some employers find it inconvenient.”

A Department of Labour study into personal grievances last year found that contrary to employer perceptions the incidence of employment problems is low, and the cost of personal grievance compensation for private sector employers is minimal.

The Department of Labour’s study can be found at http://dol.govt.nz/publication-view.asp?ID=239

ENDS

© Scoop Media