6. Question No. 6—Workplace Relations and SafetyTEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyQuestion No. 6—Workplace Relations and Safety6. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What advice if any has she seen on the impact of the Government's coalition agreement policies on workers?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): I've already delivered two of the commitments from the ACT-National coalition agreement in my portfolio: to repeal the fair pay agreement system and expand the 90-day trials to apply to all businesses. I've also implemented a moderate annual increase in the minimum wage as required by the National - New Zealand First coalition agreement. In each case I've received a regulatory impact statement from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment which included mentions of the impacts on workers. I consider and appreciate the advice I receive from officials on all fronts but I also consider a wider range of views when forming my policy decisions.Teanau Tuiono: Will she guarantee that workers will be able to continue to clarify their employment status in the Employment Court?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: I have only received very early policy scoping advice on contracting arrangements so the member will have to wait for further policy decisions to be made but one thing that's very clear from the coalition agreement's intentions is that this Government intends to clarify the law to make certain for both businesses and workers what are employment or contracting arrangements.Teanau Tuiono: Is it correct that she will not promise workers that they will continue to have the right as they have for decades to clarify their employment status in the Employment Court?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: We are not removing the courts from New Zealand. However what this Government is intending to clarify for all businesses and workers is what the law and the intention under the law and the intention of this Government is when it comes to businesses and their arrangements with contractors and workers. Parliament sets the laws which the courts follow.Teanau Tuiono: Does she acknowledge that minimum wage workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation through working as contractors and if so will she ensure they are able to clarify their employment status in the Employment Court?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: As I have suggested earlier I have only received very early policy scoping advice on the contracting arrangements. This is very early in my work programme and I'm very excited to clarify the law about the role of contracting arrangements and employment law arrangements within existing New Zealand law. I think it's very important to note that we want all businesses to thrive we want all workers to thrive and it's very important that we're giving clarity for both workers and businesses about what their rights and their obligations and their opportunities are in New Zealand's economy.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Minister as to whether she believes that it is sound industrial relations to clarify one's employment status before they commence a job not halfway through when there's a dispute?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: Thank you for the question. I think it's very important for everybody to know what they are signing up to under the law. There are many many people who sign contracting arrangements every day who are very satisfied with the terms of their contracts—90 percent of people who are in contracting arrangements are satisfied or very satisfied with being self-employed and not being employees and we should uphold their rights to continue to be contractors.Teanau Tuiono: Does she recognise that employees treated as contractors have included people such as the Gloriavale workers who worked full time from age six years old and were able to protect their rights because they were deemed employees by the Employment Court?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: When it comes to the issue of Gloriavale the labour inspectorate is there to help Gloriavale understand their obligations when it comes to employment law and the Employment Relations Act. I think it's very important that we're looking at this from all across New Zealand; that everybody knows what their obligations are they know what their rights are under the law and where there is any form of exploitation the relevant authorities are notified so that everybody has their rights upheld under our Employment Relations Act.Camilla Belich: Does the Minister agree that it is sometimes the case that during an employment relationship the nature of the work will change and it may be necessary to seek clarification at an Employment Court or the Employment Relations Authority and will this policy be maintained despite her commitment to change the law in relation to contractors?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: As I've suggested I'm in very early scoping work about the changes to clarify the law for the Employment Relations Act and I look forward to the member being part of that consultation and bringing her views in the relevant time.Teanau Tuiono: Does she think it's bad that people at Gloriavale who work from six years old full time were able to clarify their employment status in the Employment Court—the opinion?Hon BROOKE VAN VELDEN: I would also like to note this question was regarding the advice that I've received on the coalition agreement's commitments. We are not changing anything specifically in the coalition agreement to do with Gloriavale. However where employment law fits within my purview for the coalition agreement which is to clarify the intent that Parliament sets for employment relations for contracting arrangements and for employment agreements this Government will be clarifying that law. I only at this stage have very early policy scoping advice. However I expect more advice to follow and I look forward to engaging with the member at a further date.