Minister Refuses ILO Advice

Labour Minister Simon Bridges has now confirmed he will not agree to a meeting with ILO Officials to seek advice on the compliance of proposed labour law changes with New Zealand’s commitments under ILO conventions.

Helen Kelly, CTU President is at the ILO conference where the Minister arrived on Sunday night and yesterday confirmed to her that he would not agree to this meeting despite telling Parliament two weeks ago that this is why he was attending.

“Clearly this is a case of ‘hear no evil’” Helen Kelly said.

“The proposed law changes do breach ILO Conventions and open New Zealand up to an ILO complaint next year which will put New Zealand under the spot light at the UN at the very time it is trying to secure international recognition for a place on the Security Council.”

Helen Kelly said that a meeting with the ILO Standards Department would have confirmed the advice he has already received from his own officials and it is likely he simply doesn’t want to hear this from such an important organisation.

“The changes are unfair and unnecessary and show a Government driven by ideology rather than the interests of all of us who live and work in the country.  The law changes will drive wages down at a time when they are too low for many families to even meet enjoy a decent standard of living.”

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