Labour’s plan for rights of casual workers

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: Proposed changes to casual workers' rights could make a huge difference for thousands of workers, say unions.

A bill proposing changes to the Employment Relations Act would include a code of practice for casual labour and expanded powers for labour inspectors to decide the status of an employee.

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly says the Government could change the lives of many vulnerable workers if the change goes ahead.

Ms Kelly says many regular workers are going without the benefits received by permanent staff because they are wrongly defined as casual employees. Ms Kelly says many work in the retail, fast-food and hospitality industries.

Service and Food Workers Union's national secretary John Ryall says there is a widespread problem of casual workers doing regular hours on a long-term basis without the benefits of a permanent job.

"It will allow them to know precisely what their employment status is, by getting a very simple, quick decision from a labour inspector as to whether they are casual, part-time or permanent."

Unions say the proposed legislation could result in thousands being made permanent after being on casual contracts for years.

However, the bill cannot be passed before the election. Labour Minister Trevor Mallard says it may have its first reading before the election, but is warning that a National-led government would vote against it.

National's industrial relations spokesperson Kate Wilkinson says the party's position has not been finalised.