Darien Fenton
Labour MP
Media Statement
13 December 2007

ACC Bill gives fairer compensation for seasonal and casual workers

Labour MP Darien Fenton has welcomed the provisions in a Bill which passed its first reading in Parliament today and particularly those relating to casual and seasonal workers.

The Bill will close the gap for those workers who may have been deprived of fair compensation. It changes the way weekly compensation is calculated for casual and seasonal workers by providing for compensation to be based on the earning periods, rather than a combination of earning and non-earning periods.

“Workers whose earnings fluctuate throughout the year because they are in casual or seasonal employment have been disadvantaged by the current rules for calculating weekly compensation, so this is a particularly welcome amendment,” Ms Fenton says.

“Retail workers, hospitality workers, care workers, transport workers, tourism workers, agricultural and meat workers are among some of the more than 400,000 casual and seasonal workers who will benefit from this Bill.

“It is particularly important because seasonal and casual workers more prone to workplace injury,” says Ms Fenton.

“I know that workers will be delighted.”

The Bill has been sent to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and is due to be reported back to Parliament in early May 2007.

ENDS

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