Another batch of Member's Bills currently in the ballot. Previous batches are indexed here:
Employment Relations (Protection of Young Workers) Bill (Lynne Pillay): This would amend the Employment Relations Act 2000 to require that workers under 15 be employed on an employment contract rather than as "independent contractors". This means that young workers will have full employment rights, including the rights to join a union, bargain collectively, and to not be treated unreasonably or be discriminated against, where currently they may be denied the protection of the law. The bill will apply only to young workers doing real jobs (e.g. working in McDonalds), and not to e.g. babysitting or lawn-mowing.
Human Rights (Disability Commissioner) Amendment Bill (Catherine Delahunty): This would amend the Human Rights Act 1993 to create a specific position within the Human Rights Commission of Disability Commissioner, similar to the existing race relations and EEO commissioners, with the specific role of advocating for the rights of disabled people and those living with impairments, and helping to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The bill is a response to a call from the disability sector for such an advocate.
New Zealand Order of Merit (Modernisation of Titular Titles) Bill (Rahui Katene): This is Dean Knight's bill to allow the use of Te Reo titles for holders of knighthoods. As an egalitarian and a republican, I disagree strongly with this sort of aping of feudalism - but if we're going to have it, it should at least reflect our culture rather than that of somewhere on the other side of the world most of us have no connection to at all.
As usual, I'll have more bills as I acquire them.
