Catholic Bishops call on Parliament to put the interests of workers and familiesahead of commercial interests when considering Easter Sunday trading legislation

In a recent statement New Zealand's Catholic bishops said that if restricted trading on Easter Sunday is lifted, workers will not be adequately protected from pressures to work on that day. They will be deprived of opportunities of spending quality time, not just for worship, but with their families, and in other leisure activities.

The bishops said they not accept that the good faith provisions of the Employment Relations Act 2000, or the additional provisions proposed by the Commerce Select Committee were sufficient to protect employees’ right to practise their faith and spend time with their families on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The bishops emphasised the importance of people being able to spend adequate quality time together for strengthening family relationships.

"Much has been written and spoken lately about the disintegration of family life with financial pressure being an important contributing factor. When parents are forced to work long hours at the expense of time spent with each other and with their children, we see children and young people who are left without the comfort and security of traditional family interraction. We don’t need to spell out the dire consequences that often result when young people look elsewhere for their support and for ways to spend their time," the bishops wrote.

Pointing out that New Zealanders work some of the longest hours in the OECD countries, they call on the government to do more to promote a work/life balance. Extended shopping hours do not achieve this but the few days when shop trading is restricted provide some opportunity to strengthen and develop this balance.

The bishops do not support the government delegating authority for fundamental decisions about working hours to local authorities. They believe that this will result in widespread Easter trading by default, as regions and employers find themselves compelled to introduce trading in the face of competition and other pressures, contributing to a situation where workers are not able to take leave.

"We ask our Members of Parliament to view the social rather than commercial aspects of this proposed legislation, and to exercise their vote in the interests of the workers and families of New Zealand."

ENDS

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