Measured Process Needed To Fully Inform Business-Unions On Employment Relations Changes

The sooner the business comm
unity - and the unions - know the final shape of the employment relations legislation, “the sooner we can all get down to the business of securing some certainty and confidence.”

Michael Barnett, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Commerce, said that speculation on how prepared the Government was to amend the Employment Relations Bill had been in the market for some weeks.

“The issue is to get these changes into the open and give business some certainty of the environment it will have to work in - for better or for worse.”

Neither the business community nor the unions are well enough informed of the changes to be able to say how their respective self-interests will be affected.

“The issue is to get a time frame and process in place to enable business to get properly informed of the practical impact that the legislation will have on the business and workplace environment.”

He agreed it would be stupid and counter-productive for Government to rush the amended Bill though Parliament in the dead of night. On the other hand, he had seen nothing from Government that indicated that they planned to do this.

Both the Prime Minister Helen Clark and Labour Minister Margaret Wilson were on record as promising a positive response to business sector concerns. “Ensuring business is fully informed of the legislation’s practical impacts is one of our key concerns... I can only assume at this point that Government is listening and will respond positively,” concluded Mr Barnett.

For more information contact: Michael Barnett, Ph: (09) 309 6100 or 021 631 150.

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