Best worker protections for Easter trading law is status quo

The best way to protect workers under the Easter trading law is to vote to retain the status quo, the union for retail workers says.

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has pulled her members bill on Easter trading from today’s vote, saying she wants to improve worker protections.

But the National Distribution Union says that despite assurances in previous Bills that workers and employers would need to agree for a worker to be rostered on, retail workers indicate this would not be a real right in practise.

“Even experienced retail workers who know their rights find it hard to say no to working on a busy day, and don’t want to let the team down,” said Robert Reid, General Secretary of the NDU.

“Easter Sunday is not a public holiday, so workers will not get any compensation, such as time in lieu, for working that day. It will become an ordinary working day for people who work in the retail sector.”

Retail workers were also suspicious of arguments that shop trading amendments are just about choice, and that shops aren’t being forced to open, Robert Reid said.

“Once the competitor down the road opens, so too will their shop open, and they will be called on to work.”

“Yes, there are problems with the current law. But what is good about it is that opening is the exception and not the rule. Retail workers want to keep it that way,” Robert Reid said.

ENDS

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