Wayne Mapp MP
National Party Industrial Relations Spokesman
29 September 2006
Small businesses need 90-day Bill
National Party Industrial Relations spokesman Wayne Mapp say the Labour Government should take note of a business
survey expressing serious concerns about employment-related compliance costs for small and medium businesses.
He is commenting on this year's Business NZ-KPMG Compliance Cost Survey which finds that compliance costs continue to
rise and small businesses are faring the worst.
"Since Labour has been in office, employment law has become increasingly complex," says Dr Mapp.
"Small businesses, in particular, have had real difficulty complying with the volume of paperwork and bureaucratic
requirements,"
The report singles out for mention the costs associated with personal grievance claims under the ERA. Dr Mapp says his
Member's Bill that sought to introduce a 90-day probationary period for new employees would have provided a meaningful
solution. "A probation period would enable an employer to take a chance with new employees without facing the risk of
expensive and protracted personal grievance procedures.
"The Government's own Small Business Advisory Group identified grievance costs as the biggest obstacle to the growth of
small business in this country - it's time Labour gave small business a break and did something about it.
"Small businesses are the driving force behind the New Zealand economy but ever-increasing compliance costs send the
wrong message and threaten to drive them to despair."
ENDS