CTU MEDIA RELEASE
10 September 2008
Casual workers to be protected under new Bill
Casual workers will have greater protection under a Bill tabled yesterday in Parliament, said Peter Conway, Council of Trade Unions Economist.
"The Bill
"The Bill also codifies case
law the tests that should be applied to assess whether a
worker has progressed from casual to permanent
employment." "Unions will also welcome provisions in
the Bill that cover what is known as 'triangular'
employment. The Bill will ensure that workers who perform
work for a controlling third party can join that party to
any personal grievance claim, and also must be employed on
terms and conditions no less favourable than any collective
agreement which covers direct employees." "While we
have low unemployment in New Zealand, far too many Kiwi
workers are in casual and temporary work, bringing
insecurity to their incomes and work and family
life." "Protection for casual workers is long overdue
and we hope that this Bill can proceed to a select committee
and then on to full legislative effect," Peter Conway
said. ENDS