The Employment Relations Amendment Bill was announced by Simon Bridges, Minister of Labour on 26 April 2013 and was introduced into Parliament on 5 June 2013. It has been referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations select committee for submissions and further consideration. The select committee is scheduled to report back on 5 December 2013. [...]
Holidays Act Amendment – Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and Anzac Day
From 1 January 2014 most employees will be entitled to a public holiday when Waitangi Day and /or Anzac Day fall on the weekend.
Health & Safety Update
There have been a number of significant developments in Health & Safety with the Independent Taskforce into Workplace Health and Safety releasing its report to Labour Minister Simon Bridges on 30 April 2013. The report makes sweeping recommendations to change New Zealand’s current health and safety system. The taskforce was set up in response to [...]
Changes to KiwiSaver
The minimum contribution rate for both employers and employees is now 3%.
Minimum Wage Changes
The minimum adult wage is now $13.75, largely due to CPI increases continuing at low rates. In addition, a ‘Starting Out Wage’ has replaced the former ‘New Entrants minimum wage’ and the ‘Training Wage’. The Starting Out Wage applies to under 20 year olds and is designed to provide incentive to employers to take a [...]
The Living Wage
Launched in the second half of 2012, the ‘Living Wage’ campaign is beginning to feature more prominently in the media and is also becoming a key aspect of market positioning for an increasing number of employers.
Secret Ballots Required for Strikes
Secret ballots are now required before lawful strike action may occur. If a majority of members entitled to vote and who do vote are in favour of the action then the strike may lawfully proceed. After the ballot the union must notify members of the outcome of the ballot.
Case Update of Interest
Redundancy – Employment Court clarifies that it can analyse an employer’s business reasons for a redundancy – Totara Hills Farms v Davidson, WEC 15/12 In this recent decision the Court considered whether s.103A of the Employment Relations Act 2000 was wide enough to include an analysis of an employer’s business reasons for terminating employment due [...]