Turning The Charm On Businesses

Prime Minister Helen Clark is turning on the charm on businesses, sending a letter to over 10,000 small companies promising to review the government’s proposed employment law.

Her move to take a re-look at the Employment Relations Bill seeks to clarify issues which have concerned employers who are nervous about the new legislation.

Controversial elements of the Bill to be reviewed include the definitions of dependent contractors, directors' liability for wages and the disclosure of sensitive business data to unions.

However major changes to the Bill are unlikely after reports that an employment law expert brought in to help with the review reported favourably on most of the other elements of the legislation.

Labour Minister Margaret Wilson will present the draft Bill with the changes to a select committee in the next fortnight.

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