New Zealand Labour Pushing Law to Protect Contract Workers

One year ago, New Zealand’s labour unions, led by its national centre, the Council of Trade Union (NZCTU), successfully prevented a regressive bill from becoming law. The so-called Probationary Employment Amendment Bill would have made it easy for employers to hire and then sack temporary workers during their first 90 days of employment.

The unions did it with mass demonstrations and outreach to many groupings that effectively generated mass support among New Zealanders.

Now labour unions and the CTU are pushing for passage of legislation that would aid contract workers. The Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill is now before the Parliament, and the measure has a good change of passing. The proposed law would assure that people doing work under individual contracts are at least paid New Zealand’s minimum wage.

Currently, many of the people that are economically dependent on the sale of their labour are not defined by the law as employees, thus not afforded protections under the country’s minimum wage law.

“Most contractors in New Zealand are remunerated well above the minimum wage,” stated CTU Secretary Carol Beaumont. “But this bill would help certain groups of workers who are being unfairly disadvantaged by contracting relationships, and are being paid below the minimum wage.”

Added Beaumont, “The minimum wage marks a minimum standard in New Zealand that is considered acceptable for anyone being paid for their efforts. That standard deserves to be extended to everyone.”

The bill was introduced in July and received its first reading late in August. It could pass NZ’s Parliament next month.