“Union warns proposed NZ employment leave laws could disadvantage Pacific workers”, 1 October 2025
A New Zealand union executive warns proposed changes to employment leave laws could result in less pay for Pacific workers. However, the government says the changes are designed to make the system fairer. […]
E-Tu union national secretary Rachel Mackintosh told Pacific Waves the overall impact of the changes would disproportionately impact jobs and industries where Pacific people are more likely to work.
“The burdens and the reduction in leave entitlements fall disproportionately on lower paid people in less secure work, less predictable work. Those are the people who will lose out.”
Mackintosh identified specific groups most likely be disadvantaged from details released on the proposed changes: part-time workers and workers in roles where over-time pay was significant portion of their income.
“Pacific workers are more likely to be doing work where there’s overtime pay, so they will get less pay when they go on holiday. Pacific workers are more likely to be part time, so they will get less sick leave. So that’s just a greater disadvantage,” she said.
The government has rejected this. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden said last week “simplicity” was at the heart of the new system. […]