PROGRESS ON MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Hon Margaret Wilson
Minister of Labour

Hon Laila Harre
Associate Minister of Labour

23 May 2001

PROGRESS ON MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Labour Minister Margaret Wilson and Associate Labour Minister Laila Harre today released the first reports of three advisory groups reporting to the government on the Holidays Act, equal employment opportunities and 'contracting out' arrangements.

Further consultation and technical work is continuing on the issues being
covered by the three advisory groups, and the government has yet to make any
decisions.

Each group includes employer and union representatives, as well as other
experts.

Margaret Wilson and Laila Harre said the Advisory Groups have provided
robust, comprehensive and thought provoking analysis of the very complex issues
involved.

"We have invited two of the Groups to undertake further development work.

"For the Holidays Act we have asked for identification of further areas of
compromise between employers and unions.

"For the Contracting Out Group we have asked for further technical
development and impact assessment of a number of options, ranging from a review
of the current protections in the ERA to an assessment of the European Directive
on Acquired Rights.

"We were pleased to see the high degree of unanimity among the members of the
EEO Advisory Group; this indicates the broad social consensus that has emerged
on equal employment issues. We will be discussing with the chair of the group,
Anske Janssen, if there are further areas which need developing by the group".

Margaret Wilson and Laila Harre said progress on the Holidays Act is likely
to attract interest from employers and employees throughout the country.

"It has been clear for an awfully long time that the Holidays Act does not
reflect current working practices. It is equally confusing to employers and
employees. This is most clearly borne out by the massive number of queries
received by the Employment Relations Information Line which receives
approximately 59,000 calls per year on the Holidays Act, and the fact that
approximately 80% of complaints to the Labour Inspectorate relate to this Act.

"This uncertainty and the resultant stresses and costs cannot be allowed to
continue. The Labour Alliance Government intends to work with the parties and
continue tripartite discussion to improve the legislation".