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Breastfeeding in the Workplace

The Government introduced the Employment Relations (Breaks and Infant Feeding) Amendment Bill in April 2008 which, if enacted, will require employers to provide appropriate facilities and breaks for employees who wish to breastfeed (including expressing breast milk), as far as is reasonable and practicable.  The Bill also will require employers to provide employees with statutory minimum break entitlements, being an unpaid half hour break and two paid ten minute breaks in an eight hour work day.

These amendments are intended to create minimum standards for "a modern work force in respect of the protection and promotion of infant feeding through breastfeeding and the provision of rest and meal breaks".  The Government considers that these proposed amendments support policy confirming the choices of employees, particularly regarding their work life balance and caring responsibilities. 

The Bill is before the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee. At the date of writing, submissions have closed and its report is due on 22 July 2008 (although this date could change).

Parental Leave Payments Increased

With effect from 1 July 2008, the amount payable for parental leave will increase. Under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Rate of Parental Leave Payment) Regulations 2008 (SR 2008/136), the maximum amount payable will increase from $391.29 per week to $407.36. The minimum for self employed people will increase from $112.50 to $120.00 per week. Eligible parents are entitled to 14 weeks paid parental leave.

Transfer of Public Holidays for Shift Workers

A second Bill, the Holidays (Transfer of Public Holidays) Amendment Bill has also been introduced, allowing for the transfer of public holidays when an employee's work shift straddles a public holiday and a surrounding day.  It is open to the parties to agree to transfer the public holiday in such a case.  Legislation is proposed to address the recent Supreme Court decision New Zealand Airline Pilots Association Industrial Union of Workers Incorporated v Air New Zealand Limited, which found that an employer and an employee cannot agree to transfer a public holiday from the day listed in the Holidays Act 2003 to another day.

Public submissions are now being considered by the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.

Redundancy Law Review

The Government has appointed a Public Advisory Group on restructuring and redundancy to examine "the adequacy of redundancy laws and provisions", with the support of the Department of Labour, Social Development and Employment, and Economic Development.  The group will report by June 2008. 

For more information, please contact:

Erin Davies
Partner
t: +64 9 979 2177
m: +94 29 622 2300
e: Erin Davies

Last updated: 1 June 2008