The Labour Party is calling on the Human Rights Commission to investigate concerns that workers with disabilities are losing their jobs at KFC because of its restructuring policy.
The Unite Union said disabled workers had been let go in the past year because of a KFC policy for all staff to be capable of all duties.
Labour's social development spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern said the Human Rights Commission should investigate the concerns about the fast food chain.
"This catch-all policy is unfair and unjust. Social responsibility is a guiding principle for smart business globally. Restaurants in small towns rely on the engagement of their local communities. This one-size-fits-all approach won't go down well with workers in Greymouth or Oamaru," she said.
"I have first hand experience working with young people with disabilities. In fact, I trained two people at KFC in these very roles. Each of them had enormous dedication to their job and the team. The idea that a policy like this would now put them out of the job is devastating."
