The industrial and employment policies of the eight parties in Parliament are compared in the table below.
The Herald is covering all the major policy areas in a series running throughout the election campaign.
| Party | Policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | Raised minimum wage from $7 an hour (40% of average wage) to $12 (50%); would hold at least at at 50%. Required new workers to work on collective terms for first 30 days. Extended paid holidays to four weeks. Introduced paid parental leave. Legislated for meal breaks and breastfeeding facilities. Would legislate for redundancy pay for all and protections for casual workers. | |
| National | No changes proposed in minimum wage, paid parental leave, meal breaks or requirement to work on collective terms in first 30 days. Allow workers to negotiate collectively without joining unions. Allow workers to sell their fourth week's holiday for cash. Allow employers with fewer than 20 staff to hire workers on 90-day trial with no right to personal grievance if dismissed. | |
| NZ First | Raise minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2011. Support protection for casual workers and perhaps redundancy pay, but no other changes to employment law or paid parental leave. Oppose National's plans to buy out fourth week's holiday and 90-day trial period. Make 50-plus age group a target group under equal opportunities law. Boost resources for health and safety inspections. | |
| Greens | Introduced Flexible Working Hours Act and adult minimum wage for teenagers. Will raise minimum wage for all workers to $15 an hour immediately then link it to 66% of the average wage. Support improved protection for casual and temporary workers. Will promote multi-employer collective bargaining. Support equal pay for men and women workers for work of equal value. Stronger health and safety laws covering including hazardous substances, harassment, cancer, pregnancy and workplace stress. | |
| Maori Party | Raise minimum wage to $15 an hour from age 16. Extend time and pay rates of paid parental leave and extend it to whangai (adoptive) parents. Allow workers to strike at any time over safety issues. Support protection for casual workers and statutory redundancy pay. Oppose National's 90-day trial period. Oppose buying out fourth week's holiday. | |
| United Future | Raise minimum wage, and extend paid parental leave to a year plus four weeks for fathers, as economy allows. Abolish requirement to work on collective terms in first 30 days. Review law requiring new cleaning contractors to take on existing workers. Oppose making employers pay labour hire workers on same terms as their own staff. Support 90-day trial period and right to sell fourth week's holiday. | |
| Act | Abolish minimum wage but use tax system to ensure fulltime workers with children are at least $100 a week better off in work than on welfare. Repeal Employment Relations Act, abolish Employment Court and let employers and employees negotiate under common law. No change to paid parental leave. Allow workers to sell fourth week's holiday. Allow dismissal without personal grievance in first 180 days. | |
| Progressive | Statutory minimum code covering sick and bereavement leave, redundancy, protection of casual and temporary workers and workers whose employer's business is sold. Discuss phasing in shorter working week without loss of pay. Equal pay for work of equal value. Require health and safety committees in larger workplaces and boost health and safety inspectors. | |
