More spin from Govt over productivity

The Government's new Workplace Productivity Working Group can't be taken seriously unless they look at the rigidity of New Zealand's labour laws, starting with the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill, says National MP Roger Sowry.

"This has all the hallmarks of yet another bureaucracy set up to try and give the impression the Government is actually doing something about the concerns of the business sector.

"If they want to look at productivity, the first place they should start is with a review of the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill.

"This Bill drives the innovation out of employer - employee relationships and moves us further towards a rigid, inflexible unionised labour market.

"If the Government is genuine about improving productivity they could also start reducing the massive range of compliance costs, taxes and regulation imposed on businesses.

"This is a re-enactment of the business charm offensive from the winter of discontent in 2000. The Working Group should be seen for what it is - part two of the Government's desperate charm offensive on industrial relations. Part one was sacking the unpopular Minister of Labour.

"Business people are not mugs - they will see through this," said Mr Sowry.

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