Media Release
11 November 2003

A Fair Go For Workers And Business

New Zealand First will vote in favour of granting employees four weeks annual leave from 2005 but wants the Government to give businesses a tax break to help pay for it.

The issue was discussed at the New Zealand First caucus today and Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters said MPs agreed to support the move but wanted it introduced “sooner rather than later”.

Mr Peters said men and women were not placed on Earth to work 365 days a year and it was time New Zealand recognized the beneficial effects of recreation for workers in often stressful workplaces.

“It is a well-known fact that it takes at least three weeks for the average person to recover from the rigours of a year at the coal face so a move to four weeks leave could actually improve workplace performance.

“However there will be an expense to businesses so the Government should provide a tax break as well as reducing compliance costs to defray the cost of the extra week.”

ENDS

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