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Nat’s dumping of bill a blow for low paid workers
Darien Fenton
Spokesperson on Transport
Safety
Associate Spokesperson on Labour
12
March 2009 Media Statement
National’s dumping of bill another blow for low paid workers
Associate Labour spokesperson Darien Fenton says that Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson’s decision to discharge the Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 3) which would have brought protections to casual, temporary and labour hire workers is yet another blow for low paid vulnerable workers under the National-led government.
The bill was tabled by the Labour-led government in September 2008 and would have strengthened the rights and protections of casual workers and temporary workers in a ‘triangular’ employment relationship, where the employer contracts their services to a third party.
“Coming on top of confirmation last week that the National-led Government doesn’t support minimum wage protections for vulnerable contractors, the attacks on ACC with its implications for seasonal workers, the 90 day Fire at Will Bill and the dumping of Pay and Employment Equity investigations, the message to low -paid women, casual and temporary workers is clear,” says Ms Fenton.
“National doesn’t give a toss.
“Whether Kate Wilkinson likes it or not, there are many workers in non-standard work who struggle to access fairness at work. They contribute to the economy and deserve to be treated fairly.
“I haven’t heard any plans from the government about protecting the jobs and income of these workers.
“These workers are already working a lot less than the nine day fortnight trumpeted by the government yesterday and they receive no wage subsidy for the hours they lose,” says Darien Fenton.
“The numbers of casual and temporary workers will expand in the current economic environment, as some employers seek to pass on the risk and cost of doing business to the lowest-paid workers.”
“Labour will keep this bill on the agenda by resubmitting it as a Members’ Bill, because casuals and temporary workers are the first in the firing line in the current economic climate - it’s just not good enough to ignore them” says Ms Fenton.
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