NEW HOLIDAY-PAY BASIS ‘ASTOUNDING’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33626, 30 August 1974, Page 3

NEW HOLIDAY-PAY BASIS ‘ASTOUNDING ’

<.V Z Press Association) WELLINGTON. August 29. Emplojers would be astounded by the contents of the Annual Holidays Amendment Bill introduced in Parliament this week, said the Employers Federation today. The bill gives all workers three weeks paid leave. The federation had expected the move to three weeks, but it had not contemplated — and totally opposses — the use of full gross earnings as the new basis for calculation of holiday pay, said the federation’s executive director (Mr P. J. Luxford). AGREEMENT UPSET The Government’s proposals effectively destroyed a national agreement between the Employers’ Federation and the Federation of Labour, he said. “This agreement provides for holiday pay to be based on average earnings to a maximum of 30 per cent above ordinary pay. “Aside from destroying the agreement the legislation will completely override the negotiated pro- ■ visions in every award in existence.” Mr Luxford said that a perturbing feature about recent activity by the Gov- '! ernment was what he called its failure to consult the major parties ' affected by new legisla- i tion. j The Government formed it an Industrial Relations j I h

Council to consider and to reccmmend on industrial legislation — and on this occasion completely ignored it before introducing this bill. "The manner in which the employers have been ignored in the preparation of this bill makes a mockery of the recent calls bv Mr Watt as Minister of Labour for increased cooperation between all parties concerned with industrial matters,” Mr Luxford said. The amended bill would have a major impact on

industries requiring overtime and shift work. Labour costs would be substantially increased and imposed on employees when the could least afford them. INFLATION “The level of inflation in New Zealand is markedly affecting the productive capacity of our industries, and this latest move will add a further burden on employers.” The federation urged the Government to refer the bill to a Select Committee, said Mr Luxford.