07 September 2006

Employment Law Amendment Gives Fair Deal for Vulnerable Workers

"Amendments to employment law passed this afternoon will bring a fair deal to vulnerable workers, and give effect to Parliament's original policy intent when it first addressed their protection during a restructuring in 2004," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

Parliament this afternoon passed the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which strengthens provisions for certain vulnerable workers when a business is sold, or work contracted out.

"Vulnerable workers such as commercial cleaners need the full protections of the Employment Relations Act when their employment situation changes due to the sale or transfer of a business," said Ross Wilson.

"They face constant job insecurity and threat of loss of employment terms and conditions, and the Employment Relations Act amendments give affect to the original policy intention to provide specific protection for these workers in restructuring situations."

"The CTU made it clear in 2005 that this needed to be fixed, and the government with the support of a number of other parties has acted to rectify the matter."

ENDS

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