The PM has flagged changes to leave entitlements for some workers
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is suggesting the Government will soon announce Holidays Act reform that cuts sick leave entitlements for part-time workers.
It follows last year’s proposed changes to the plagued legislation that sought to help businesses the Government says are struggling with the Labour decision to double sick leave for all eligible workers.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB ahead of his trip to China and Europe, Luxon was asked about sick leave entitlements and said an announcement was incoming.
“We might need to do things about pro-rating sick leave as well because people who were on part-time contracts are getting fulltime 10-day equivalency, so Brooke van Velden’s working through some of those issues.”
Luxon said the changes would be announced alongside other related reform by van Velden in her capacity as Workplace Relations Minister.
In a statement, van Velden said she hoped to make an announcement in the coming months about pro-rated sick leave.
She confirmed it would not involve a reduction from 10 days to five days, which Luxon suggested van Velden was looking into on RNZ this morning.
Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono said changing sick leave entitlements was “nothing short of an attack on the morale and productivity of our workforce”.
“The Government is making a habit of revealing such changes at the start of Winter when seasonal illnesses, flu and Covid are placing many families under strain,” he said.
He reiterated his party’s policy of five weeks of annual leave for all.
Pro-rating sick leave would mean part-time workers would be allocated this type of leave based on how many hours or days they worked.
This approach was proposed in an exposure draft of a bill amending the Holidays Act announced by van Velden in June last year.
“Workplaces that rely on part-time workers are particularly vulnerable to unexpected staffing shortages. To explore this issue further, the exposure draft set for consultation will include a proposed approach to pro-rating sick leave, to better reflect how much an employee works,” she said in a June 2024 press release.
The draft also proposed changing how annual leave was provided, moving from an entitlement system to an accrual system.
In December, following consultation, van Velden admitted the draft bill would not solve the issues with the Holidays Act and had told officials to re-think the changes.
“Not only have I heard from submitters that further simplification is possible, but there were some who believed that what we put out for consultation was more complex and had higher compliance costs than the legislation we have now.”
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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41.8% Yes
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33.5% Maybe?
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24.7% No
Tips and advice to stay street smart this summer
Summer is finally here!
Time for BBQs, holidays, Christmas, travelling and events galore.
We've put together a whole range of tips and advice so you can put your feet up and relax this summer, knowing that it's all good in your hood.
Our first piece of advice to make your neighbourhood safer this summer, is to get to know the people who live around you! People who know each other are more likely to offer, accept, and ask for help when needed.
Shop Safe - Preventing Fraud & Scams
You might find yourself making more purchases than usual at this time of year, and many of those might be online, so here's a set of tips and advice to make sure you stay safe and secure whilst doing your Christmas shopping this year. And remember to think about the security of your online shopping when it gets delivered!
Heading away this summer?
It's a busy time of year on new Zealand roads and everyone wants to get from A to B safely. It's also important that your home stays safe while you're away enjoying your 'home away from home'. We have put together a set of tips and advice to help make that happen!
Keeping your car, home and belongings safe
From recording valuable possessions to securing locks, keeping valuables hidden and informing trusted neighbours that you will be away, there are many things you can do to keep your car, home, and belongings safe. Here's a bunch of handy tips!
Party planning checklist and fire-wise tips
Whether it’s a small backyard gathering, or a big celebration for a special occasion, a little extra planning and consideration will go a long way in keeping you, your guests, and your neighbours happy. We also have some tips to make sure you and your families stay fire-wise during summer.
Get to know your neighbours - look out, reach out, help out
The most important action you can take to make your community safer is get to know the people who live around you. People who know each other are more likely to offer, accept, and ask for help when needed.
It is also important to know who to contact in an emergency and when to use the non-emergency contact for NZ Police. Learn more about Neighbourhood Support, get tips on getting to know your neighbours and the best way to contact the police below.
Strong communities start with small hellos
In terms of crime prevention, your neighbours are the best and cheapest security system you can have. You don't have to love your neighbour, but at least get their number just in case!
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Have a happy, safe and connected summer!
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