2020 Election: Labor promises to double sick leave to 10 days

The Labor Party is promising voters that it will double workers’ sick leave rights from five to ten days a year.

If he is reelected, he agrees to make the change within his first 100 days and will work with companies and unions within the established deadlines.

Labor relations spokesman Andrew Little released the party’s policy this morning, which also promises:

• Raise the minimum wage beyond the scheduled increase to $ 20 next year.

• Raise the age for workers to perform hazardous work from 15 to 16 years.

• Legal protections for dependent contractors.

• Strengthen the Labor Relations Law to make it difficult to undermine collective agreements.

• Legislate and implement fair payment agreements.

• Improve payment transparency across all genders and ethnicities.

If re-elected, the Labor Party will legislate to increase the legal minimum sick leave for workers from five to ten days.

“To maintain healthy workplaces and prevent the spread of Covid-19, all workers must be able to take sick leave while isolating themselves,” Little said.

“The costs to the economy of being locked up far outweigh the costs of employees staying home sick.”

On raising the minimum wage, Labor said it would take a “balanced approach” so that the nation’s lowest paid workers can benefit from economic growth “while ensuring that employers and businesses can continue to grow and provide stable employment.”

He also promised to make it easier for women to get pay equity in his organization or throughout his industry.

There weren’t many details in his policy document about how he would do that other than “ensuring there are better pay equity records” in New Zealand.

“This will allow people to better see where the problem lies and take advantage of the work we have already done to streamline the process for women to negotiate equal pay agreements.”

It would also introduce Fair Pay Agreements in line with the recommendations of the Fair Pay Agreement Task Force which it says would make it easier for workers to receive fair wages and conditions.

Key provisions of the fair pay agreements that Labor would introduce include:

• The agreements would cover dependent employees and contractors.

• Workers would be represented by registered unions during bargaining and only unions could initiate bargaining for the first agreement.

• The conclusion of an agreement would require more than 50 percent support from workers and more than 50 percent support from employers.

• Once agreed, Fair Pay Agreements would cover all employers in the industry, but regional variations and waivers of up to 12 months could be negotiated for employers facing severe financial difficulties.

The Labor Party also pledged to simplify the Vacation Act, which it claims has failed to provide consistent leave rights or provide adequate leave for new workers. Would be:

• Introduce legislation to simplify calculations for employers’ licenses.

• Allow employees to take annual and sick leave when needed, and their leave will accrue over time instead of being available as a block when they reach 6 and 12 months of employment.

• Allow employees to take bereavement and family violence leave as needed.

And Labor would strengthen section 59b of the Labor Relations Act so that unions do not have to establish the “intent” of employers who automatically pass on collective bargaining profits to non-union workers.

Finally, Labor committed to protecting vulnerable workers by:

• Legislate protections for dependent contractors.

• Recognize security guards as vulnerable workers to ensure their terms and conditions are protected.

• Raise the age for workers to perform hazardous work to 16 and ensure that all workers have the right to elect health and safety representatives.

• Ensure that seafarers’ wellness centers provide better services.

The Green Party said it supported the policy and said it would work with Labor to quickly implement Fair Pay Agreements and extended sick leave.

The Greens have already pledged to double sick leave rights if re-elected and have long called for fair pay deals.

National leader Judith Collins said Labor would “paralyze businesses as they fight the recession” by “increasing costs.”

She said the duo of raising the minimum wage and sick leave rights showed “how disconnected” workers were with small businesses.

“Modern employers have adopted flexible work practices to ensure the well-being and well-being of their workers.

“This policy is an outdated approach to dictating employment conditions that does not reflect modern and flexible work practices.

“It will only make it harder for workers to keep their jobs.”

Law enforcement leader David Seymour said Labor “is not just breaking the hen that lays the eggs, they are twisting their necks” on labor policy.

Seymour said he had seen no evidence that people were asked to work when they were sick.

“We can only assume that this policy is being pushed by the unions that back Labor.

“Unions don’t understand small businesses. They are only interested in helping their fellow union members.”