Where does our ✨ Workplace Relations Minister✨ stand on the easy win of stopping modern slavery?
And if it's not "a priority" for her, then what is?
Last week, it was announced that National and Labour would do the rare move of joining forces to co-sponsor a bill to get modern slavery legislation into Parliament, using a new rule allowing a bipartisan majority to have a member's bill progress without being pulled from the 'biscuit tin' ballot.
The bill, co-sponsored by National's Greg Fleming and Labour's Camilla Belich, “strengthens reporting to Parliament, brings in public naming and potential liability for directors and senior managers, along with fines up to $200,000 for companies that failed to report on modern slavery, or which made false or misleading statements.”
The rare move was brought about after ACT Party and its Workplace Relations Minister, Brooke van Velden, refused support the bill. Van Velden had previously disbanded a leadership group set up by Labour in 2023 to provide advice on a modern slavery law, and stated that the bill was “not a priority” for her.
So, that begs the question, what has been a priority for Workplace Relations Minister, Brooke van Velden? Let’s take a look at her track record:
Under urgency, undertook a massive overhaul of New Zealand’s pay equity regime, making it more difficult for people (mainly women) to take pay equity claims.
Reinstated 90-day trials.
Helped introduce the “fire at will bill” allowing companies to fire someone for no justifiable reason if they earn over $180k.
Cut sick leave entitlements for part-time workers.
The removal of the 30-day rule reduces union bargaining power.
Made it easier for employers to classify workers as contractors, depriving them of sick leave and annual leave.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We haven’t even touched on how unemployment has risen under the coalition government, how they haven’t raised the minimum wage to meet inflation, how work conditions for those working in healthcare have gotten worse, and their ongoing attacks against firefighters.
So it comes as no shock that Van Velden and ACT party leader David Seymour are pushing back against this bill. When it comes to workers’ rights, they are clearly on the side of the employer and big business.
Coming out against the modern slavery bill using borderline symour tradmaked buzzwords as “bureaucratic” and “virtual signaling” is really the clearest indication of how Seymour and his Party minions view and value workers.
Danz
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