More delays for Holidays Act overhaul
Shared from Otago Daily Times. Published on Monday, 2 September 2024.
THE latest attempt to overhaul the hugely problematic Holidays Act has run into fresh delays.
The existing legislation is so unworkable that hundreds of thousands of employees have been underpaid by billions of dollars across the public and private sectors for years.
A new law was meant to be in place at least two years ago.
Instead, the Ministry of Business , Innovation and Employment has started over with consultations .
However, it is now a month late in choosing who to consult with over a draft Bill.
‘‘ We have not yet communicated an outcome of the selection process and plan to do that shortly,’’ the ministry said.
This government has said this would include payroll experts.
The release of the draft of proposed amendments for targeted consultation had been scheduled for later this month.
The consultation could result in further changes before the Bill is introduced to Parliament.
The government has sketched out some of the changes it wants from the overhaul, such as easier methods for calculating leave.
Law firm Anderson Lloyd, in an online commentary, said many questions remain.
‘‘ What we know about the current proposed changes only reinforces how much uncertainty still needs to be resolved if we are going to get an Act that is truly modern and reflective of the way we work,’’ it said.
‘‘ Time will tell if the legislation can be made workable.’’ — RNZ
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Read the full ODT article here.