EMA campaigns to keep Kiwisaver ripoffs – EPMU

The Employers and Manufacturers Association’s campaign against law changes that would stop employers ripping off Kiwisaver payments is a sick joke, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

The call comes as the employer lobby group launches its advertising campaign to stop the government closing a loophole in Kiwisaver that lets employers take their contribution from their workers’ pay.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says Kiwisaver is intended to help workers save for their future.

“Kiwisaver is about creating incentives for working people to save for their long-term futures and includes concessions for people on lower incomes to participate.

“But the current loophole allows employers to pocket the government tax credit and then take their contribution out of their workers’ pay rises which is clearly unfair.

“The EMA’s campaign is about continuing that unfairness.

“We’ve stopped employers exploiting these loopholes at the negotiating table on several occasions but many workers who don’t have the protection of a union have not fared so well.

“Ironically it is exactly the kind of workers the EMA is claiming to champion that have been the most hurt by this loophole.”

The EPMU campaigned industrially and politically for employer contributions from the start of the Kiwisaver scheme and will be running member rallies in 25 New Zealand towns and cities this August to promote the importance of work rights.

ENDS

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