9. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Labour
What protection is available to workers who are made redundant?
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Labour) Link to this
As the public advisory group noted, redundancy is a form of dismissal and is subject to the personal grievance provisions and other protections of the Employment Relations Act. Compensation, remedies, and other damages are available under those provisions.
What advice would the Minister give to the 45 Tritech workers who have just been made redundant without any redundancy compensation?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
For anybody who loses their job it can certainly be an upsetting experience, and we certainly sympathise with them. That is why this Government has made sure we are taking every step we can to get the economy growing again, and to help workers to both stay in jobs and get new ones.
Does the Minister think it is fair that some of those workers, who have been with Tritech for more than 20 years, are being sent out the door with no recognition of their service, and with nothing to tide them and their families over in the hard times until they find a new job?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
Redundancy is a matter of agreement between the parties, obviously. I note that 78 percent of collective agreements actually do have redundancy provisions, so unions have obviously negotiated good provisions in that regard. In relation to statutory redundancy, I say that in the public advisory group’s report 14 of the 22 submitters supported the status quo; only eight were against.