A new nationwide poll suggests many New Zealanders believe the Government’s proposed changes to employment leave laws will benefit employers more than workers.
Research commissioned by the Public Service Association (PSA) found 41 percent of respondents believe the Employment Leave Bill will favour employers, while only 11 percent think workers will benefit more.
The findings come as the Government advances reforms to the Holidays Act through legislation currently before a select committee.
The survey found concern was particularly strong among part-time workers, who are expected to be among those most affected by the proposed changes. Just 10 percent of part-time workers said they believed the reforms would help them, while 45 percent said employers would be the main beneficiaries.
The poll also found broad public support for maintaining current leave entitlements. Two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) said workers whose pay varies from week to week should receive the same pay while on annual leave as they would during a typical working week.
The PSA argues the proposed legislation will reduce leave entitlements for workers with variable hours, including part-time employees, commission-based sales staff, healthcare workers and others who regularly work beyond their contracted hours.
The union says the reforms are part of a wider pattern of employment law changes introduced since the coalition Government took office, including changes to pay equity processes, personal grievance rules, minimum wage settings and workplace protections.
The survey also examined public perceptions of government services. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said public services have worsened since 2023, compared with 25 percent who said services had improved.
The PSA attributes declining confidence in public services to workforce reductions across the public sector and warns planned cuts could further impact frontline services.
The Employment Leave Bill remains before Parliament’s select committee process.
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