Press Release 21 February 2001

Employment Fono For Pacific Island Communities

Redundancies, dismissals and other employment matters will be high on the agenda at two Pacific Island community meetings next week. Organised by the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office, the meetings are part of their Pacific Law campaign to educate Pacific Island people about their rights.

The first meeting will be held at the Otara Recreation Centre on Thursday 1 March between 7 - 9.00 pm in the seminar room. The second will be held at the Avondale Community Centre, 99 Rosebank Rd on Friday 2 March at the same time.

Duane Leo and several Pacific Island team members from the Employment Relations Services in Auckland will be at the fono to help answer questions. He says it's important ERS has face to face meetings with Pacific Island communities to promote better understanding of employment issues.

"A major focus for Pacific peoples are the basic rights that employees have and obligations that employers have toward them," says Leo. "A key part of this is the "minimum code", i.e. holiday pay and sick leave entitlements. In response to this the service has produced a minimum rights pamphlet in various languages including Samoan and Tongan."

The Employment Relations Service currently employs up to fifteen Pacific Island people in the Auckland area. Leo says working with the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office's Pacific Law Campaign will help their department to reach a more diverse range of people.

"We hope the fono will help to promote, fair, safe and satisfying work opportunities," says Leo. "By strengthening links with Pacific groups, we hope to develop a comprehensive strategy together.

Ends

For more information, contact the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office on (09) 378 6085

PL2K LEGAL FONO ON EMPLOYMENT

Thursday 1 March 2001
7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
OTARA RECREATION CENTRE
(Seminar Room)

Friday 2 March 2001
7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
AVONDALE COMMUNITY CENTRE
(99 Rosebank Road, Avondale)

PROGRAMME

7.00 pm Introduction by Cultural Director of PL2K
Opening Prayer
Introduction of the programme and the
Pacific Lawyers and
Pacific staff of Employment Relations Service

7.10 pm Overview of Employment Relations Act to explain:
„« Object of Employment Relations Act
„« Who is an Employee?
„« Who is not an Employee?
„« What is the Employment Relationship?
„« Collective Bargaining?
„« Minimum Rights and Legislation?
„« Problem Solving?

7.30 pm Presentation from Employment Relations Service
„« ERS Services delivered
„« ERS Role with Employers
„« ERS Role with Employees
„« ERS Role with Unions

7.50 pm Divide into 4 (bi-lingual) workshop groups

7.55 pm Group 1 : Paul Pa¡¦u (Samoa)
Group 2 : Amelia Schaaf (Tonga)
Group 3 : ERS (Cook Islands)
Group 4 : ERS (Niue)

8.45 pm Assemble fono together
Notices, questionnaires, and closing speech

9.00 pm Prayer and farewells

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