Easter trading needs to be sorted out by National

Easter trading needs to be sorted out by National

Easter trading will again be a circus this year thanks to a muddle of outdated laws, anomalies, and historic exemptions that the new Government must now look to sort out,” says the head of Auckland’s leading retail area.

“In 2007 the Department of Labour conducted some extensive and costly consultation on Easter trading, only for the previous Labour Government to then do nothing. Only fresh legislation will sort out the annual Easter circus once and for all. Until then the same headaches will reoccur,” says Cameron Brewer, head of the Newmarket Business Association.

“This is not about further liberalisation of shop trading hours as our own surveys show that the majority of our retailers don’t actually want to open their doors on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. However a new and level playing field needs to be adopted. While at the same time retailers who feel they have a strong case for exemption need an opportunity to put their application forward.

“It’s crazy that visitor destinations like Queenstown and Taupo can trade, but Rotorua, Mt Maunganui and Wanaka can't and desperately want to. There also remain silly anomalies that see the likes of Parnell being allowed to trade on Easter Sunday because it has got an historic exemption.

“In the 1980s there was a panel overseen by the Department of Labour that ruled on exemptions. However retailers have not had an opportunity to request an exemption for 20 years. This avenue needs to be reopened and what visitor destinations and which type of shops should be permanently exempt needs to be reassessed. Also those areas with historic exemptions need to be re-examined. The question of whether garden centres should be allowed to open on Good Friday needs to ruled on as well. Since 2001 they’ve only been allowed to open on Easter Sunday.

“Once again we’re going to see Department of Labour inspectors out and about this Easter weekend issuing $1,000 fines to some retailers and not others. It is crazy stuff.”

Mr Brewer also believes given the economic environment, it’s time for the Government to look at the Holidays Act. He predicts this year more New Zealand businesses will not open this coming Easter Weekend and ANZAC Day because of the extra cost of employment during public holidays.

“If this legislation is in fact forcing businesses to shut up shop, and denying employees of much needed income, then it’s time to assess its effectiveness.”

Since the Holidays Act 2003 employees are entitled to at least time and a half and a day in lieu if they are required to work on a public holiday that would otherwise be a normal working day for them.

“Let’s not forget that the Holidays Act was passed in 2003 when the economy was roaring along. Things however have changed dramatically. If a business is faced with extra employment costs while at the same time foresees lower turnover, it simply may not be viable to open. Many businesses will be doing the numbers as to the viability of opening on statutory holidays.”

“The Holidays Act was brought in to protect workers’ interests. However given the recession, the act’s provisions could now and quite ironically shut people out of work. This in fact could be an unintended consequence of the legislation. It’s just taken a recession for it to be realised,” says Cameron Brewer.

ENDS

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