Holidays Act changes cosmetic

1 September 2004

Holidays Act changes cosmetic

Changes to the Holidays Act are cosmetic and do not address the real issues, says Hospitality Association Chief Executive Bruce Robertson.

The major concern of the hospitality industry is the ‘Mondayising’ of Christmas and New Year public holidays, plus the requirement to pay employees time and a half.

Many hospitality operators are now carefully reconsidering their options on public holidays, as the additional costs are making trading unviable on those days. The impact of the Holidays Act this Christmas will mean fewer premises open, lower staffing ratios, and higher prices for consumers.

The proposed changes offered by the Government around sick leave do little to alleviate the problems of businesses that operate seven days a week. Businesses will make commercial decisions in response to legislation, and Government should be concerned about these unexpected consequences - less choice for customers and fewer jobs for employees, says Mr Robertson.

ENDS

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