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> Symposium on the New Zealand Employment Contracts Act
Sounds like this symposium has an all-star cast!
Just to bring matters to do with the ECA up to date a little. The
government is now considering effectively abolishing the current
legislated entitlement to three weeks annual leave, by "allowing"
workers to exchange some or all of their leave for money. This
naturally will leave workers with low bargaining power with no
holidays. A similar proposal may do the same for statutory holidays
such as Christmas day. These are among a number of options in an
official options paper leaked by the Alliance Party.
There is also a suggestion that employers be entitled to bargain
directly with workers, completely bypassing the union.
Doubtless other similar proposals are in store in a review of labour
legislation currently being carried out by the government, results to
be announced officially in the next few weeks.
Bill
