A proposed law to ban gang patches from Government buildings poses safety concerns for front-line workers, according to the Public Services Association.
National MP Todd McClay believes he has the support to pass a private member bill which would see gang patches banned from public schools, hospitals and swimming pools.
PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott said the Bill has not been thought through as it puts front-line staff in stressful situations they are ill-equipped to deal with.
Pilott said 59% of government workers are women.
"I think they will have very legitimate questions about how it will work in practice and who will be responsible for enforcing it," said Pilott.
"Imagine a staff member at a small rural office trying to tell a
patched gang member in their local community that they won't be
served or that they have to leave the premises.
"It could put staff in a very difficult situation which they are
not equipped to deal with."
The bill has also been criticised by the Mana Party who says it is a waste of time.
"It's a completely dumb idea, if they do that then I might wear a patch to Parliament myself," said party leader Hone Harawira.
Under the proposed law, gang members who enter a government department or council swimming pool wearing a patch could face arrest, a $2000 fine, and the destruction of their gang insignia.
The bill is modelled on a Wanganui District bylaw banning the patches in some public places.
The bylaw has had to be modified since it was introduced in 2009 after it was successfully challenged by a member of the Hells Angels gang.
McClay is hoping to evade legal challenges to his private member's bill by listing all the recognised gang patches in the legislation.