Employment Bill should not be rushed through

Employment Bill should not be rushed through over summer

“Government should not be rushing the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill through consultation processes over summer” – says Tourism Industry Association NZ (TIANZ) Chief Executive, John Moriarty. The Bill was introduced yesterday and submissions must be made by 27 February 2004.

Mr Moriarty says that the Bill has significant implications for tourism businesses, the vast majority of whom are small and medium enterprises that depend on flexibility to operate and survive in order to meet visitor’s needs.

“Businesses such as these ought to be given reasonable time to appreciate the impact the Bill may have on their business and asking them to set aside time during their busiest period is simply unreasonable.”

“Consulting under pressure during the summer period clearly gives the perception that the Government has already made up its mind and that there is little sincerity in its desire to consult. This is not good public policy making”, says Mr Moriarty.

TIANZ request that the submission deadline be extended through to the end of April to give all stakeholders a good opportunity to make considered submissions on this Bill.

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