“Thank you for your email of 4 October 2010 raising issues of actors work permits and possible amendments to the Commerce Act 1986 and the Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA).
Having considered the possibility of amendments to the ERA or Commerce Act carefully, our view, following extensive consultation with the Crown Law Office, is that, for the reasons set out below, it would not be appropriate to recommend such amendments.
“…….In our view, the relevant legislative provisions provide sufficient clarity such that no legislative amendments are required.”
Hon Gerry Brownlee
Hon Christopher Finlayson
This was the government’s position in mid-October 2010. But by the end of the month, they had caved into demands to change our employment legislation to exclude film and video workers from their right to challenge the status of their employment.
The government released more information on this sorry saga today after being told they had to by the Ombudsman. It makes for fascinating reading. Put to one side the florid and over the top language about the union and the MEAA union leader, Simon Whipp that has attracted some media comment.
Read the documents and see for yourself the hand New Zealanders were dealt by a weak government, not prepared to stand up for all of us.
