Bus and Coach Assoc Applauds Breaks Bill Amendment

* 3 September 2008*

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*Bus and Coach Association Applauds Breaks Bill Amendment*

The Bus and Coach Association has welcomed with open arms an amendment to the Employment Relations (Infant Feeding and Breaks) Bill passed this morning.

Peter Brown of NZ First tabled an amendment to ensure that the transport sector did not have to comply with the Bill's work time breaks provisions, which originally required 10 minute rest breaks every two hours.

Mr Brown's amendment was supported by all parties and passed into law.

BCA chief executive officer Raewyn Bleakley said the amendment was exactly the outcome that the Bus and Coach Association had worked constructively to achieve over the last few months.

"We greatly appreciate the support of NZ First in taking a lead on this important issue for our industry."

Ms Bleakley said the BCA fully supported employees having breaks but rest and break provisions were already covered in the recently-amended Work Time and Logbook Rule.

Without the changes to the Bill, bus and coach employers faced penalties under the two sets of conflicting requirements, which would have resulted in rising costs and service disruptions.

ENDS

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