Employment law tweaks won't let workers have secure incomes

Changes to employment law signalled this morning by the Government will not ensure secure jobs and reliable incomes for workers. These changes will place additional barriers to moving to secure work, the Council of Trade Unions said today.

"Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced employment law proposals which would significantly change the law surrounding insecure work. These changes include making lawful contracts without any hours of work, allowing late cancellations of shifts and early finishes of work already contracted without full compensation." CTU President Helen Kelly said.

"The new law allows employers to continue to offer 'no hours'. This practice should be unlawful except where impractical." Kelly said.

"These changes also allow employers to restrict workers taking second jobs where a “competitive advantage” will be lost by them doing so. Workers will have the worst of both worlds. On the one hand an employer will be able to guarantee you nothing, but still stop you taking on other work. Current law does not allow this even if an employment agreement provided for it." Kelly said.

"Zero, or insecure hours, are creating havoc for New Zealand workers. Workers have no idea how much they will earn each week, when they will be required to work and when they will not, and if they get off side with the employer they often find they have no work at all." Kelly said.

"Most businesses, do not need to use zero hour contracts. Including businesses like hospitality, which are often open long hours, seven days a week. To see the Government legislating to allow zero hours is a betrayal of every family in the country." Kelly said.

The CTU is calling for changes that would include:
Hours of work to be included in an employment agreement wherever reasonably practicable.
A presumption in law for full time work, if the worker seeks it and it is available, rather than firms having dozens of workers competing for every last available hour.
Freedom to work rather than restrictions on secondary jobs except for health and safety.
Minimum hours and preference clauses that favour existing workers seeking more hours.

CTU spokesperson Helen Kelly said that the Minister also indicated today that the new Health and Safety Bill will be passed with changes that remove workers rights to cease dangerous work in small businesses.

“This Government has shown a distain for decent and safe work in todays announcements and New Zealanders will oppose these changes all the way through the Parliament." Kelly said.

ENDS

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