Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says the Government has opened two consultations.

Fair Pay Agreements

A discussion paper has been released on options for the detailed design of a new system to allow workers and employers to negotiate better minimum terms and conditions of employment for their occupations and sectors.

The paper outlines some options for a new system to allow workers and employers to negotiate better minimum terms and conditions of employment for their occupations and sectors. The document says the result of these negotiations will be Fair Pay Agreements; a new type of regulation to combine the adaptability of bargained contracts with the dependability of Government‐backed minimum standards.

The paper gives a series of options and submissions are sought up to 5pm on Wednesday, 27 November 2019.

Temporary migrant worker exploitation review

A discussion paper states that the review wants to know how to address the exploitation of temporary migrant workers (including international students) in New Zealand workplaces and make them less vulnerable to exploitation.

The document says the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has undertaken a review into temporary migrant worker exploitation in New Zealand. The review is a multi-year project. This first stage has included consultation with migrant, union and business representatives; and independent research to better understand the nature, drivers and consequences of exploitation from both migrant and employer perspectives.

"We now want to know what you think of this work and provide a summary of the findings of the Review to date here, along with an initial set of proposals and options designed to reduce the exploitation of temporary migrant workers in New Zealand."

An overview of the proposals is available in six different languages as well as English.

Submissions on the discussion document are sought up to 5pm on Wednesday, 27 November 2019.