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Compulsory Fair Pay Agreements risky for economic growth
Fair Pay Agreements would bring risks
to business and the economy, says
BusinessNZ.
The Fair Pay Agreements report proposes
a system of industry-wide collective
agreements for New Zealand
workplaces.
BusinessNZ was one of three employer
representatives on the working group
who disagree with key recommendations
of the report.
Chief executive Kirk Hope says the
compulsory nature of fair pay agreements
and the risk of industrial action
and productivity loss are key concerns.
"Being covered by a fair pay agreement
would be compulsory for everyone in
an industry or sector. We disagree with
this and think the decision to enter any
employment agreement should be voluntary.
"Fair pay agreements would limit business
flexibility, as a collective covering
every business wouldn’t be able to meet
the needs of individual firms. Businesses
that wanted differently would have
to negotiate separate agreements on
top of their fair pay agreement, and this
secondary bargaining would increase
the risk of industrial action, as happened
with similar rules in the 1970s.
"There would be risks to productivity
because everyone would have to attend
paid stop-work meetings to agree
on their fair pay agreement. All employer
representatives on the working
group were concerned that about the
consequences and costs of this."
He says employers would want to see
significant changes to the proposals
to address the likely risks to business,
jobs and growth.
Hydrogen and
economy top
minds
The sixth annual New Zealand
Energy Issues map shows energy
executives grappling with the
potential of hydrogen fuel, along
with economic issues including
New Zealand’s emerging climate
framework. The issues map
identifies hydrogen as one of
this year’s fastest-moving energy
issues.
The 2019 New Zealand Energy
Issues Map is part of the annual
World Energy Issues Monitor
which helps bring transparency to
the rapidly evolving, complex and
uncertain environment in which
energy leaders operate.
"Hydrogen is a hot issue in
2019 for New Zealand’s energy
leaders. This is very different to
the combined world view. The
Ministry of Business, Innovation
and Employment recently
engaged ARUP, a member of the
BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC)
to help deliver a hydrogen strategy
for New Zealand," says Hon David
Caygill, chair of the BEC.
"New Zealand energy executives
seem to have gained more
confidence around innovation.
Last year’s map showed some
tension over issues such as
cyber threats, blockchain and the
internet of things. That tension
has lessened this year and energy
leaders are now exploring how
these technologies might benefit ."
/www.engineeringnews.co.nz
