Govt scores big zero on its rethink

THE Government rethink on zero contracts needs a rethink.

It has not so much tightened up the law as introduced vague words such as "reasonable". This will allow unfair work practices to exist and give a lot of work to employment-law specialists, given that much of our criminal justice system is based on lawyers arguing over the definition of "reasonable".

What it should have done is legislate against zero-hour contracts.

They should be defined by law - and outlawed.

The problem with words such as "reasonable" is it means different things to a vulnerable worker and to an unscrupulous employer. Flexibility does not mean one side of a contract losing all certainty about hours and conditions of work.

And the Government also needs to demonstrate there is no room for manoeuvre in these kind of employment contracts. By implementing clear, concise legislation it sends a powerful message that they have no place in New Zealand society.

New Zealand has a heritage of being a pioneer in safeguarding employment rights, and we should not lose that.

And any company that has to use zero-hour contracts to stay in business has no right to be in business. On the other extreme, multinationals such as fast-food companies, which are at the forefront of introducing such arrangements, don't need the extra profits hewn from these contracts.

The Government's legislative response to zero-hour contracts will be revealed in the Employment Standards Bill to be introduced to Parliament this year. It is unthinkable that post-Global Financial Crisis, with rocketing salaries paid to the top tier of earners and income inequality growing, the Government is asking the most vulnerable to suck it up again.

There is plenty of time to kick this nasty practice into touch.