Final agreement on 4 weeks for all

All workers will receive entitlement to Four Weeks Annual Leave from 1 April 2007, if not sooner, because the government has agreed to Progressive Deputy Leader, Matt Robson's, Four Weeks Leave Bill.

"Four weeks leave for all workers is a major working condition reform for the new century, so it is with immense pride that we welcome the announcement that Labour has agreed to implement the Progressive's Four Weeks Leave Bill.

"Four Weeks Leave follows in the historic footsteps of the Employment of Females Act 1873 giving holidays on Saturday afternoons after 2pm and on our original statutory holidays of Christmas and Easter. And it follows on from 2 weeks annual holiday passed into law in 1944 and 3 weeks annual holiday in 1974.

"This milestone in our labour history compares with other land marks such as the Equal Pay Act 1972, Accident Compensation Act 1972 and the Paid Parental Leave Amendment Act 2002.

"This is a significant labour reform and we are proud to have played a key role in ensuring New Zealand workers achieve world class conditions of work to balance the stresses of the modern workplace.

"We will, of course, reserve the right to vote for an even earlier implementation of Four Weeks Leave," said Jim Anderton and Matt Robson.

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