Employer Bulletin | 18 March

Hon. Brooke van Velden, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, addressed the Auckland Business Chamber, setting out for the first time her priorities as Minister.

Acknowledging that businesses have had it rough recently, she highlighted that reforming the Holiday’s Act is one of her top priorities: “The first action I am going to take is to make sure that any changes to the Act are workable and are a material improvement on the status quo”.  She highlighted that complexity of the legislation had been a driver in the delays to update the Act, and noted that if legislation is difficult to draft then it is likely that it will be complex for businesses to implement. She also signalled that a review of the health and safety system was appropriate as the Health and Safety at Work Act is almost 10 years old, as well as signalling changes to the Employment Relations Act that could help to lift New Zealand’s productivity and export growth.  

In today’s Bulletin

• Business Payment Practices Act repealed.
• Coalition Government completes 100-day plan.
• Trustee tax change welcomed.
• Speech to Auckland Business Chamber by the Honourable Brooke Van Velden.
• Government lowering building costs.
• Government agrees to restore interest deduction.
• Six Employment Relations Authority cases and eight Bills open for submission.

If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.