Most New Zealanders believe the government's proposed overhaul of holiday and sick leave laws will benefit employers rather than workers, according to a new poll commissioned by the Public Service Association (PSA).
Research commissioned by the PSA found 41% of respondents believe the Employment Leave Bill will favour employers, while only 11% think workers will benefit more.
Among part-time workers, just 10% think the changes will help them, while 45% say it helps employers. Two in three New Zealanders (66%) also said workers whose pay varies week to week should receive the same pay on holiday leave as in a typical working week.
PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the results showed the public was not convinced by the Government's framing of the legislation as a simplification exercise.
"The public overwhelmingly believes the Government's changes to holidays and sick leave under the Employment Leave Bill will benefit employers, not workers," Fitzsimons said. "Far from simplifying the Holidays Act as the Government claims, this Bill sets out to cut the leave of workers."
The PSA argued the changes would disproportionately affect part-time workers, those on variable hours, commission-based sales staff, health workers, and others regularly working beyond contracted hours.
"This all fits the Government's pattern of relentlessly attacking the rights of workers at every step over the past two years. This government is the most anti-worker government that New Zealand...
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