Portfolio: Labour

Bill for new rest and meal break legislation introduced

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:24:50 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

A Bill granting greater flexibility to existing meal and rest breaks legislation was introduced to Parliament today on behalf of Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson.The Employment Relations (Rest Breaks an...

Terms of reference released for adventure tourism review

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:11:14 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson today announced the terms of reference for a nation-wide review of the adventure tourism sector. The review of one of the cornerstones of New Zealand's tourism industry...

Remuneration Authority chair appointed

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:20:31 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Former State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham has been appointed as Chair of the Remuneration Authority, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. The Remuneration Authority is the b...

MPs salaries to reflect economic conditions

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:16:10 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

The Remuneration Authority will be required to take into account adverse economic conditions when setting MPs salaries under a new Government Bill, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson. "This year M...

Risk of regional airport disruption unacceptable

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:59:27 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

The Government will introduce legislation to address the threat of regional airport control towers being closed and services unnecessarily disrupted, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today....

Work deaths show need for partnership approach

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:34:41 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

With more than one person a week dying in a workplace accident, a proposal to involve New Zealand's top business leaders in bringing down the work toll is timely and welcome, says Minister of Labour K...

Submissions open on code for infant feeding

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:34:07 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Public submissions on the Draft Code of Employment Practice on Infant Feeding will be welcomed from today, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson has announced. “The purpose of the Code is to provide emp...

New Zealand Chemical Industry Council AGM

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:52:04 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

It is a pleasure to be here today to address your annual conference and to be presenting the PRINCE and Responsible Care awards. These awards are an excellent way to recognise leadership and looking a...

Submissions open on Holidays Act review

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:17:23 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Public submissions on the Holidays Act 2003 will be welcomed from tomorrow, 21 July, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson has announced. “The Holidays Act affects all business owners and employees. It ...

100 Years of Mediation

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:45:54 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Speech by Hon Kate Wilkinson, Minister of Labour, to commemorate 100 years of employment mediation, Parliament House, 30 June 2009. Ladies and Gentlemen: a very warm welcome on this chilly Well...

Code of ethics launched as mediation service celebrates 100 years

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:04:19 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson will launch a new code of ethics for the country’s mediators as they celebrate 100 years of employment mediation in New Zealand tonight. Ms Wilkinson says the new C...

Address to the ILO Summit on the Global Jobs Crisis

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:49:18 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Mr President, fellow delegates. I am pleased to represent New Zealand at this important event, and I congratulate the ILO and the Director-General for their work in enabling this Summit to take place....

Jobs on the agenda for international conference

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:56:59 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson will take part in discussions on the proposed Global Jobs Pact at the 98th International Labour Conference in Geneva starting Sunday. The Director-General's 2009 rep...

Parental leave payments increase

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:17:13 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Families with new babies can expect a boost to their parental leave payments next month, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. The maximum parental leave payment will increase from $407.3...

Holidays Act review underway

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:42:45 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

A working group has been appointed to begin the review of the Holidays Act 2003, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson. "The Holidays Act has been widely criticised for its complexity and generic app...

Pay equity unit disestablished

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:39:28 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

The Pay and Employment Equity Unit (PEE) will be disestablished as part of the reprioritising of Government spending, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson. Seven positions will be affected by the ch...

Remuneration Authority chair steps down

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:23:19 +1200

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Remuneration Authority Chair David Oughton will step down when his term ends on July 31 this year, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. "Mr Oughton indicated in January that he did not w...

Holiday trade the employee’s choice

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:34:33 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Plans to give employees the choice to cash in the fourth week of their annual holidays will be included in the review of the Holiday's Act this year, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson. "It has be...

Wilkinson to visit Canberra

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:34:59 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Minister Kate Wilkinson will meet Australian Ministers and senior government officials when she visits Canberra this week. High on the agenda for the visit is a meeting with Senator Jan McLucas on Thu...

Speech, 23rd Annual Premier Industrial Relations Conference

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:27:00 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Speech, 23rd Annual Premier Industrial Relations ConferenceMarch 3, 2009Auckland Good morning. I remember quite well speaking to many of you at this same conference last year as the Oppositio...

Union flyer should ease Mallard's fears

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:26:11 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson is pleased to see unions recognising the protections available to employees on trial periods, in contrast to Trevor Mallard's scaremongering on this legislation. "Des...

90 Day Trial Period Starts Sunday

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:13:22 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Workers will have the opportunity to seek employment on a trial basis of up to 90 days from this Sunday, March 1. The new legislation will be a real boost for people on the margins of the workforce ...

Minimum Wage Increased to $12.50

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:54:02 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

The Government has moved to increase the minimum wage from $12 to $12.50 in line with the Consumer Price Index, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. The training and new entrants' minimu...

Government welcomes UN call for labour initiatives

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:41:25 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

The United Nations' call to prioritise employment in economic planning is right in line with the initiatives put in place by the National Government to offset the global recession, says Minister of La...

New Zealanders to have greater employment opportunities

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:40:19 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Businesses and workers will benefit from expanded employment opportunities because of today's passage of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2008, says the Minister of Labour, Hon Kate Wilkinson. ...

Employment Relations Amendment Bill First Reading Speech

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:41:27 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

This bill amends the Employment Relations Act 2000 to implement Government policy on trial employment periods for new employees of small and medium sized businesses - those employing fewer than 20 ...

90-day trial period to provide job opportunities

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:05:44 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Trial employment periods for up to 90 days for workplaces with fewer than 20 employees will be available from April 2009, the Minister of Labour, Hon Kate Wilkinson, announced today. Legislation is...

Labour briefing to incoming Minister released

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:20:34 +1300

Kate Wilkinson | Labour

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has today released the Department of Labour briefing to her. The briefing covers the department's work in the areas of immigration, workplace health and safety, empl...