Employers’ Federation Deputy Chief Executive, Anne Knowles today said that if there is a “sweat shop” in Auckland employing immigrants in terrible conditions, this is not acceptable.

“The Employers’ Federation strongly condemns those who seek to exploit employees in such a way.

However Ms Knowles said that calls by both the Labour Party and the CTU that repealing the ECA would fix such abuses are wrong.

“Sweat shop type situations are against the law now. Obviously the people running this situation either know this and choose to break the law, or they don’t know what the law is. Either way why would repealing the ECA make a scrap of difference?

“We already have employment laws that establish a minimum code covering things such as getting paid, minimum wages, equal pay for equal work, training contracts, holidays and leave, serving your country, having a baby, privacy, safety, injuries at work, smoking, discrimination, and so on.

“In fact we currently have at least 14 Acts of Parliament that govern the employment relationship.

“I agree with Pete Hodgson when he says, ”Undignified conditions such as those discovered in sweatshops cannot be tolerated”

“But he also states, “They (these conditions) haven’t been seen in this country for decades.” This shows that Mr Hodgson agrees the existing laws have worked pretty well,” Ms Knowles concluded.

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