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Source: ONE News -
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The Government is hailing the success of its nine-day fortnight after Fisher & Paykel workers signed up to it and another 21 companies called Work and Income to say they were interested.
Prime Minister John Key says that under the scheme the jobs of 350 workers at Fisher & Paykel's Auckland factory were now guaranteed for the next six months.
"And Work and Income has received 21 inquiries for job support ... 21 companies looking to ensure they can have their workforce kept intact," he says.
But Labour continued to pour scorn on the scheme, saying the government's initial claim that 10,000 jobs could be saved had turned out to be nonsense.
Fisher & Paykel says the arrangement it had negotiated with its workers would be regularly reviewed and if demand for its products increased normal working hours would be resumed.
Under the arrangement, a 35-hour week will be supplemented with an additional 3.5 hours pay made up from government and company contributions.
The remaining 1.5 hours can be taken as paid leave, and workers will attend company-funded training for 3.5 hours a fortnight.
Under the Government's scheme, employers can offer staff the option of working a nine-day fortnight instead of being made redundant.
They will be given a government subsidy of $62.50 to help make up the 10th day's pay.
