The government is developing a pattern of throwing up decoy proposals and then pulling or amending them to make itself look moderate, and it could do the same with its 90-day laws, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) says.CTU president Helen Kelly had told
The government is developing a pattern of throwing up decoy proposals and then pulling or amending them to make itself look moderate, and it could do the same with its 90-day laws, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) says.
CTU president Helen Kelly had told people not to be "surprised or sucked in" if the government's proposal to allow employers to be able to request a doctor's note for any day of sickness is withdrawn or amended.
The proposal was among employment law announcements made by Prime Minister John Key at last month's National Party conference, including an extension of the 90-day probation period for workers.
Ms Kelly said the proposal where employers can request a doctor's note as proof of one day of sick leave, provided they pay for it, was "so unworkable" that Government may have added it in to the package specifically so it could be withdrawn later, making it look like it had softened its stance.
Mr Key had thrown up similar "clangers" in the past, such as mining on schedule four land and ACC motor bike levies, before withdrawing or amending them and making him look like a "reasonable politician", she said.
"I am saying that New Zealand workers should be alert to this and not be fooled if it occurs."
It's not the first time the government has been accused of using back-downs as cynical tactics to placate people, but others have been prepared to give credit to the government for listening to people's concerns.
