11. Question No. 11—Workplace Relations and SafetyMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyQuestion No. 11—Workplace Relations and Safety11. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: How is the Government delivering on its commitment to increase minimum sick leave entitlements to 10 days a year?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): We're delivering on our commitment by introducing a bill to increase minimum sick leave entitlements to 10 days a year to the House today. As promised we've introduced the bill before Christmas. It will go through a full select committee process. This will ensure that everyone can have their say on how we implement this important change. Marja Lubeck: Why is increasing sick leave to 10 days important?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: COVID-19 has shown it is important for people who are sick to stay at home. Increasing the statutory minimum will mean that more people who are sick have access to paid sick leave. We also know that businesses benefit. When their staff stay home when they're sick it means that bugs don't spread leading to fewer absences and increased productivity. [Interruption] They could do with some more productivity over there. We need to move past the tough-it-out" culture that risks infecting others. Marja Lubeck: Is the Minister considering any further changes to sick leave beyond those in the bill?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The Government has introduced and will refer to select committee a bill that adopts a straightforward approach to increasing sick leave entitlements from five days to 10 days per annum. We are open to considering further changes and I intend to write to the select committee to request they consider issues that may be wider than the immediate scope of the bill such as prorating the additional sick leave entitlement for part-time employees providing some sick leave entitlement from the first day of employment for employees with an expectation of continuous employment and changing the hours test for employees who do not initially have an expectation of continuous employment. We're looking forward to striking a good balance and I also look forward to engaging with the committee and key stakeholders on this important bill.Marja Lubeck: What reports has he seen on this announcement?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Some very good reports. Richard Wagstaff from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has said that "Working people are welcoming [this] announcement." Kirk Hope from Business New Zealand said "it's pretty difficult to disagree with the sentiment … if people"—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Hang on. There's a certain predictable reaction from the first name. I would have thought the second might have got a bit more respect from my left. Chris Bishop: Didn't hear it.SPEAKER: Well that's because you were yelling.Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Mr Speaker would you like me to begin again?SPEAKER: No I think you can just start from Kirk Hope.Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Kirk Hope from Business New Zealand said "it's pretty difficult to disagree with the sentiment … if people are sick they should stay at home" and "This will impact [half of] businesses not at all." Michael Barnett from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce said "It's about wellbeing … [and] doing the right thing" and "If you manage [your sick leave] well [that's] a positive for you.""