Media release

18 July 2000

Government has chance to bolster employers' confidence

The drop in business confidence signalled by the NZIER's latest quarterly survey could be repaired by a few strategic changes to the Employment Relations Bill, says Employers' Federation chief executive Anne Knowles.

Ms Knowles says part of the drop of confidence can be attributed to events outside the control of Government, but part of it is undoubtedly due to the position that the Employment Relations Bill puts employers in.

"Although a number of changes to the Bill have been signalled by Government, they do not reduce the powerful position that unions will soon have over the way employers run their business.

"Being able to call strikes to achieve the equivalent of national awards will soon be legal, unlike now. This will put some employers at the mercy of national unions. It is understandable that employers should lack confidence to invest when their ability to control their own operations is about to be diminished.

"Making a few strategic changes, such as keeping multi-employer strikes illegal and toning down the ability for unions to disrupt contented workplaces, would help repair business confidence and make employers again think about investing," Ms Knowles said.

Contact Anne Knowles 04 4994111 or 021 425868 Kathryn Asare 04 4994111 or 021 555744

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