26 April 2013

Less chance of a pay rise under National

New Zealanders are less likely to receive a pay rise if significant repeals of employment legislation introduced by the National Government today are passed, says the Green Party.

“National is going back to the ‘90s with these employment law repeals. In the 1990s wage increases for the average New Zealander froze,” said Green Party employment relations spokesperson Denise Roche.

“National is not proposing a single change that will mean New Zealanders wages will increase. Their own cabinet advice acknowledges that it is likely the changes will make it easier for employers to pay their workers less.

“National’s repeals mean collective agreements don’t have to be completed, meaning employers won’t have to settle wage increases with their workers.

“These repeals mean there is no requirement for workers in the same industry, doing the same job to get the same pay through multi-employer negotiations. That will see a return to reducing wages to drive down costs.

“The Government has forgotten hard working Kiwis and instead is backing employers with these reforms.

“By undermining collective bargaining the Government is intervening on the side of employers over hard-working Kiwis who are struggling to get ahead.

“Undermining collective bargaining could also result in health and safety problems – workers concerns need to be taken into account,” Ms Roche said.

ENDS

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