Some good changes but who is going to enforce them?

“The package of changes to minimum employment standards is a good start but doesn’t address the elephant in the room” says CTU Secretary Sam Huggard.

“Every week we see evidence of a system that’s failing working New Zealanders, from migrant workers paid a fraction of the minimum wage to petrol station attendants forced to pay for customers’ theft.

Stronger sanctions for employer who exploit workers are long overdue. The CTU has called for directors and officers of companies to be liable where they have participated in breaches and we’re pleased to see the Government pick this up. Many of the other proposals are sensible.”

“The elephant in the room is who is going to enforce these minimum standards. There are only 41 Labour Inspectors for the whole workforce. That’s less than a third of the number of inspectors per capita compared to Australia. That means that Inspectors are unable to deal with complaints in a timely fashion or, in some cases, at all. A significant boost in inspector numbers is needed.”

“Unions do a great job of protecting workers from exploitation but the Government has launched a sustained attack on our ability to do so by making it harder for unions to get access to workplaces and to negotiate terms and conditions.”

“Workers in New Zealand are often extremely vulnerable and this Government has made them more so. If you’re on a ninety day trial period or a zero hours contract would you complain about not getting your holidays or even the minimum wage?

“If the Government is serious about protecting workers then it needs to rethink its approach to power in workplaces generally.” Huggard said.

ENDS

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