EMA

The new law for meal and rest breaks introduced to Parliament today will let employers and employees legally continue their existing long-standing practices, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

461 views

The agreement announced today between National and ACT for ACC to be opened to competition, subject to further study, is a positive move, and employers will welcome the prospect of lower ACC costs, the Northern Employers & Manufacturers Association says.

240 views

The Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association is welcoming the Prime Minister’s undertaking today that the government is to investigate employment law around personal grievance claims.

247 views

Employers are wary about the reintroduction of an open competitive market for ACC workplace accounts, says Paul Jarvie, Occupational Health and Safety Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

225 views

Estimates of the costs of the recent extensions to ACC were totally inadequate and led to the subsequent budget blow outs, say the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) “Its no surprise ACC’s costs went ballistic,” said Paul Jarvie, EMA’s Manager of Occupational Health and Safety.

311 views

AUCKLAND — The passing of the super city bill into law today makes history for Auckland and New Zealand, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

304 views

Export champion Sir Ken Stevens, chairman of Export New Zealand and managing director of Glidepath, is to lead a trade mission to Hong Kong and China next month.

800 views

The Reserve Bank’s ongoing commitment to keep downward pressure on business interest rates is most welcome, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

194 views

A survey of employers on their Holidays Act practices has shown the current law is so complicated and confusing that most employers appear to find aspects of it unworkable and are not complying with all of it.

299 views

AUCKLAND — The Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) is pleased with progress on the Auckland Council Bill reported back to Parliament, and with the pace it’s being expedited.

285 views

In financial terms the challenge to reduce New Zealand’s emissions by 10 to 20 per cent below 1990 levels is the largest we have ever faced, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

201 views

The Holidays Act is one of the biggest employment compliance headaches, and it is important employers get involved in changes to it, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

280 views

The emissions reductions targets being debated are extremely important and we cannot afford to have them set by a campaign led by celebrities, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

290 views

Though New Zealand’s main statutory holidays are closely tied in with our traditional religious days off, there is every reason to allow our workplaces the option of swapping them for holidays important to people of people of other religions.

522 views

A further sign we may be through the worst of the recession, barring another shock from offshore, is employers have been making far fewer calls seeking advice and assistance on redundancies over the past month or so, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

337 views

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) has welcomed the acknowledgement by Labour Finance spokesman David Cunliffe at this morning’s Mood of the Boardroom briefing that New Zealand’s superannuation scheme is not sustainable at present levels.

238 views

A new business to business trading portal is being launched today – E-MArket (www.e-market.net.nz) – an online service being presented by the Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA) to assist New Zealand businesses heighten their productivity and competiveness.

219 views

  Leveraging more rewards for and from Maori business will be the focus for a breakfast forming part of the Atamira: Maori in the City event in Auckland later this week.

426 views

The Employers and Manufacturers Association is suggesting that employers pay their healthy employees who are quarantined away from the workplace to do so if the employee has sick leave available, though the legal obligation to do this is far from certain.

392 views

Employers don’t have the resources to cover all the costs of misfortunes their employees may face such as swine flu, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

277 views

Personal grievance awards broke records in 2008 in all directions, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

994 views

A business awards scheme labeled a scam has closed its awards programme this year, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) advises.

273 views

More employers are inquiring about swine flu preparedness following the news it might eventually affect half the population, said Paul Jarvie, Manager of health & Safety at the Employers & Manufacturers Association Northern   “We are keeping a watch twice daily on the World Health Organisation and Ministry of Health websites to monitor developments,” he said.

227 views

The Holidays Act has been one the single biggest problems for employers and a thorough review is warmly welcomed, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

246 views

The financial aspects of today's Budget are straightforward and responsible, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

165 views

AUCKLAND CITY — The surface route selected for linking through to the north western motorway at Waterview mitigates most concerns and is a very good option, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

358 views

Business will be watching closely to see how the cut to the OCR today flows through to their borrowing costs, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

198 views

The early extension of the 9 day fortnight and other ideas like it are encouraging creative employment options in the workplace, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

179 views

AUCKLAND — The quick response by the government to the Royal Commission’s recommendation to implement one big council for Auckland is absolutely positive, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

254 views

Businesses are pleased they will be able to agree to at least some employees’ requests to cash-up holidays, now that the Government plans to allow this, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association Northern (EMA).

783 views

Either we keep our no fault ACC scheme with entitlements about the present level, or we’ll go back to a litigation free for all where the only winners are lawyers and doctors, says Paul Jarvie, Manager of Occupational Health and Safety for the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

172 views

The only people to feel the financial pain from a nine day work fortnight would be employers and the taxpayer if union conditions were to apply, says Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

274 views

The Jobs Summit must keep focused on giving businesses every opportunity to survive and grow, the Employers & Manufacturers (Northern) says.

208 views

The $500 million in spending announced today was for work already planned and will deliver $500 million plus in assets for New Zealanders benefit, says the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

145 views

Today’s five part package will help shore up business confidence the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

146 views

The bigger than forecast cut to the OCR is appropriate, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

289 views

AUCKLAND — The Employers and Manufacturers Association welcomes the concept of the Auckland region being governed as a single city region, and with a mayor with enhanced authority as reported in today’s Herald.

186 views

From the second half of 2008 inquiries to the help desks of employer organizations have largely been about restructuring resulting in job losses, reports the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

246 views

It’s reassuring to hear the Prime Minister acknowledge more must be done to halt the slide in the economy, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

142 views

The only real way to cut ACC costs is to cut accident rates, says Paul Jarvie, Manager of Occupational Health and Safety for the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

146 views

The majority of businesses are still optimistic about their employment intentions despite the gloomy economic forecasts for next year, a survey* of the Employers & Manufacturers Association finds.

155 views

Fairness and equity between employees who join KiwiSaver and those who don’t has been restored in Parliament, says David Lowe, Manager of Employment Services for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

187 views

Employees win different amounts of compensation for personal grievance claims depending on where they live, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

269 views

Employers forced to lay staff off will re-hire them sooner under a new probation law to be passed before Christmas, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

212 views

Given the softening in demand in world markets, exporters need today’s big cut to the official cash rate to keep downward pressure on the New Zealand dollar, says Bruce Goldsworthy, acting chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

248 views

The Government’s pre-Christmas economic package should include a 90-day grievance free period giving employers confidence to re-hire as soon as possible, says David Lowe, employment services manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

197 views

The widening margin between the Official Cash Rate and mortgage rates has led the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) to issue a ‘please explain’ challenge to the trading banks.

279 views

We are delighted to see the top business issues will be handled by the most senior Cabinet postings, says Bruce Goldsworthy, Acting Chief Executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

139 views

Business welcomes the National government’s rapid move to reviewing the emissions trading scheme as they promised, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

154 views

The high state of competitiveness of our manufacturing exporters should be rewarded with far stronger government focus to kick the economy back into gear, says Bruce Goldsworthy, Manager of Manufacturing for the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

147 views

Workers wages went up faster than their bosses last year according to the National Employers Wage and Salary survey just released, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

212 views

Treasury forecasts have again underestimated the strength of the Crown Accounts, this time by $1.7billion for the three months to 30 September, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) points out.

133 views

Trevor Mallard’s latest plan is to say everyone off work for seven days or more has suffered a serious harm injury, says Paul Jarvie, Health and Safety Manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

171 views

The New Zealand economy needs more done to build confidence amongst business and others as the impact of the credit crisis spreads, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

132 views

In a recession above all our people need confidence, and more money in their pockets, and National’s tax package would deliver on these imperatives, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

167 views

The tax department’s attempts to blame employers and employees for its bungling of KiwiSaver scrapes the bottom of the blame barrel, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

185 views

The trouble with Treasury predictions about where the economy is headed is they are seldom if ever right, says Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

200 views

A lot has happened in global and domestic markets since the decline in GDP recorded to June 2008 released today, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

414 views

The Employers & Manufacturers Association is hugely supportive of New Zealand negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States under the P4 agreement.

248 views

The major KiwiSaver change passed into law today represents an abuse of Parliamentary power, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association Northern (EMA).

164 views

The conclusion of the free trade agreement between the 10 ASEAN countries and CER partners Australia and New Zealand is most welcome, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

383 views

The Employers and Manufacturers Association rejects the finding of the Electoral Commission that its newspaper advertisement was in breach of the Electoral Finance Act.

163 views

The Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says the other political parties should join the Greens and ask the public which way they should vote on the Emissions Trading Bill.

159 views

Air NZ Cargo Auckland Export Awards winners announced.

463 views

The Government’s response to the Shand report shows it doesn’t care about local councils or ratepayers, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

199 views

The Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) has written to Labour Minister Trevor Mallard requesting an apology for statements that employers are committing criminal acts.

165 views

Labour Minister Trevor Mallard’s claim that employers are pocketing the tax credits of their employees is a total fabrication because they can’t, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

1,352 views

EMA says it is shocked at the reaction by the CTU and EPMU to its campaign in defence of the majority of workers who can’t afford to join KiwiSaver.

352 views

Labour Minister Trevor Mallard’s attack this morning on both workers and employers is outrageous and baseless, says the Employer and Manufacturers Association (EMA).

179 views

Employers say changes proposed to the KiwiSaver scheme by Trevor Mallard will erode workers rights and create inequality in the workplace.

856 views

Its great news Australia has agreed to progress work with New Zealand on the mutual recognition of imputation and franking credits, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

335 views

Trevor Mallard’s plan to change KiwiSaver so employers will be prevented from treating all employees equitably demonstrates a complete lack of understanding over how workplaces operate,” says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for EMA (Northern).

189 views

Business is in plainly in decline but employers are soldiering on, and even planning modest pay increases this year.

234 views

AUCKLAND CITY — Thrive New Zealand 2008, the premier business gathering for opinion leaders and decision-makers, announces today the lavish array of speakers and performers for the event, which is taking place at the Aotea Centre, Auckland, Thursday 14th August.

316 views

AUCKLAND — The changes proposed to Auckland’s councils by the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) won’t mean huge reductions in ratepayers bills, the association told the Royal Commission on Auckland at its hearings this afternoon.

239 views

The March quarter GDP figures released today are disappointing given we have been enjoying some of the best terms of trade in decades, says the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

533 views

Proposals to change ACC legislation so workers are covered for developing mental injury after being exposed to a sudden traumatic event during the course of their work are unfair and unworkable.

172 views

Parliament’s decision last week to override its own Select Committee is so extremely rare we can’t recall it has happened before, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for EMA (Northern).

276 views

The huge rise in government spending in recent years, and the added regulations imposed on business has positioned New Zealand poorly to cope with the rapid rise of food and fuel prices, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

567 views

Blackouts in the North Island are very possible, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says, and probable in the South Island if huge power savings are not made immediately.

464 views

The government’s tax cuts total $1.5 billion though it has been running surpluses four times that for years; this is patronizing and a complete let down, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

177 views

The Employers and Manufacturers Association Northern supports the need for New Zealand to have a robust policy to combat man-made contributions to greenhouse gases.

200 views

Employers are surprised at the size and suddenness of the drop in the employment figures released today.

229 views

Finance Minister Dr Cullen has said there will be no profit in a properly integrated rail system without subsidization, says the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) chief executive, Alasdair Thompson.

298 views

The about face on the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme is welcome but its really a kick for touch beyond the election, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

179 views

The lack of a reliable electricity supply is causing New Zealand long term economic damage, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

313 views

For common sense to prevail the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) is urging our law makers to think long and hard about the effects of the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill.

512 views

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says John Key’s policy of rolling out fibre optic cable to 75% of New Zealand homes is a step in the right direction, but is concerned the task may be impossible given the current skills shortage.

398 views

The National Partys economic plan that includes investing up to $1.5 billion in ultra fast broadband is applauded by the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) or EMA.

336 views

AUCKLAND — No publicised submission to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland governance has focused on the need for local councils like the submission from the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern), or EMA.

248 views

TV3’s failure to provide balance in its reporting of KiwiSaver employer contributions has prompted the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern), or EMA, to complain to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

298 views

AUCKLAND — The Governments decision that Auckland International Airport is a strategic asset and therefore shareholders cannot sell their shares to foreign investors is designed to fool some people into thinking Government does not support globalization.

311 views

Reported criticism of the way employers are implementing employer contributions to KiwiSaver is causing unnecessary confusion and uncertainty, says David Lowe, employment services manager for the Employer and Manufacturers Association (Northern) or EMA.

201 views

The Government veto of the sale of shares in Auckland’s airport removes the rights of shareholders to sell private property, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

201 views

The Free Trade Agreement with China has world class provisions to protect our businesses against unfair trade practices, says the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

471 views

Exporters are being warned to act quickly to lock in gains from the signing of the New Zealand China Free Trade Agreement today.

471 views

237 views

We congratulate Ministers Cullen and Dunne for moving fast to address the employer KiwiSaver tax credit problem facing thousands of employers, said Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

261 views

Employers are asking Inland Revenue to urgently clarify how they can claim KiwiSaver tax credits lawfully due to them, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for EMA (Northern).

211 views

Bungles in the law governing KiwiSaver are making anomalies in the scheme worse causing red tape headaches for employers.

215 views