NEW ZEALAND: Planned legislation initiatives for 2020

Disputes, Liabilities, Case Law
  • Chapman Employment Relations

The New Zealand Law Society notes that Parliament and government officials will expect a busy 2020, with a large number of legislative and regulatory initiatives planned to take place. Below are details of Employment Law planned initiatives that will result in legislation being introduced.

Fair Pay Agreements System

An August 2019 discussion paper outlines options for a new system to allow workers and employers to negotiate better minimum terms and conditions of employment for their occupations and sectors. Fair Pay Agreements will be a new type of regulation. Submissions closed on 27 November 2019 and will be used to assist with the development of legislation. No timeframe for this has been announced. For more details click here

Better protection for contractors

In February 2019 MBIE began looking at options for strengthening rights and protections for vulnerable contractors. A discussion document was released in November 2019, with consultation closing on 14 February 2020. The document says feedback will help develop a comprehensive response to the issues faced by contractors with low bargaining power and poor outcomes. The 11 options proposed involve law reform. For more details click here.

Temporary migrant worker exploitation review

Research by MBIE on temporary migrant worker exploitation was announced in November 2018. Consultation on proposed changes to the law and process closed on 27 November 2019. Final proposals for change will be given to Cabinet in early 2020, with further stages of the review to commence in 2020. For more details click here.