Party policies: Work-life balance

Labour

Extend paid parental leave to 14 weeks from December 2005 and to self-employed mothers from July 2006; four weeks' annual leave from April 2007; develop a range of responses to help workers balance work and family life.

National

Support Labour proposals for parental leave; support four weeks' leave but allow employers and workers to accept 2 per cent wage rise in exchange for giving up week.

Greens

Investigate universal basic income; raise paid parental leave; 35-hour working week; support four weeks' annual leave; make employers accept flexible working hours unless they have a good reason not to.

Act

Cut taxes so families can afford to let one parent stay home with the children; oppose paid parental leave; oppose four weeks' annual leave; allow employers and workers to negotiate holidays and working hours.

NZ First

Support Labour proposals for parental leave; support four weeks' annual leave; support reasonable proposals for flexible hours but oppose Green plan to take employers to court if they do not accept a worker's proposal.

Maori Party

Extend paid parental leave to part-time and casual workers and whangai parents; support four weeks' annual leave; increase minimum wage to $12.50 an hour.

United Future

Let parents split their incomes for tax purposes so one can stay home; support Labour proposals for parental leave; oppose four weeks' leave.