30 October 2012
Moderate changes to ERA
Proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act will improve but not significantly alter employment processes, says
BusinessNZ.
Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says the ‘good faith’ framework of the legislation will remain, with improvements to some
of the details on bargaining and contract processes.
“Part 6A of the Act has caused difficulties for companies operating in the cleaning, catering, orderly and laundry
industries. Requiring new contract operators to take on any staff working under the previous contract owner has been an
unnecessary burden for a number of small businesses, and exempting businesses with fewer than 20 employees from this
provision is a common-sense solution.
“Other changes around bargaining will also go some way towards more successful workplace relations.
“Not requiring parties to keep bargaining in circumstances where there is no likelihood of reaching an agreed solution,
subject to the decision-making power of the Employment Relations Authority, and removing compulsory sign-up rules in
collective agreements will be seen as appropriate changes.
“These and other moderate amendments to the Employment Relations Act should allow for better workplace communication and
relations.”
ENDS