ERA Changes Pass Into Law

by Desk Editor on Thursday, October 30, 2014 — 5:05 PM

Changes to the Employment Relations Act have passed into law.

The third reading of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill was completed by 62 to 58 with National, ACT and United Future supporting.

Leading off the debate for the Government Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said the bill would allow for more flexibility in the workplace. He said it would not take away tea breaks from workers but allow them and employers to make arrangements to fit their workplace.

Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway said Labour was deeply opposed to the bill and it was a sign of the Government’s arrogance its first bill in this Parliament was to undermine workers’ rights and drive down wages.

Speakers from NZ First, Maori Party and the Greens said the bill presumed relationships between employers and workers were based on them have equal strength. However many low paid workers had little power and their right to collective bargaining, wages and working conditions would be undermined.

A number of National MPs accused the opposing parties of scaremongering and not understanding the realities of the workplace.

After the completion of the debate the third reading of the Accounting Infrastructure Reform Bill divided into four bills began.

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