Government sets its sights on employers taking advantage of temporary workers

March 22, 2018

A law change is going through Parliament aimed at providing employees with more protection.

Employers who take advantage of temporary workers hired through labour hire companies are in the government's sights, with a proposed law change aimed at providing more protections for employees.

Debate is raging over the benefits of the bill that has passed through the first stage of the parliament with National the only party to oppose it.

National MP Michael Woodhouse agrees that this type of employment is vital to the economy.

"There are many, many reasons why these sorts of arrangements are perfectly necessary and appropriate and the overwhelming number of employers treat their workers fairly," National MP Michael Woodhouse said in Parliament today.

Kim Campbell of the Employers and Manufacturers Association believes temporary employment is mutually beneficial for both employers and employees.

"The advantage of a labour hire is they are there for the duration of the job and then they go somewhere else, it's good for the employer and the employee," Mr Campbell said.

Labour MP Kieran McAnulty disagrees, saying gaps in the law mean some employees are being taken advantage of because they are employed by the recruitment firm, rather than the company they do the work for,

"I think the most shocking is the example of one worker who had been on an extended placement with a secondary employer, found out she was pregnant and got dismissed the next day," Mr McAnulty said.

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