The Department of Labour is investigating whether an Auckland company is entitled to shut out unions on religious grounds.
 
Fort Richard Laboratories came under scrutiny after revelations workers were forbidden to speak any language other than English in the staff room.
 
But now the country's biggest union is concerned law changes could see other companies doing exactly the same.

The case of Fort Richard Laboratories has raised questions over whether companies should be exempt from unions because of the religious beliefs of the boss. Fort Richard Laboratories has the certificates allowing that.

"The Department of Labour has revoked, or accepted the revocation of his certificate that denies the union access," said Andrew Little of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU).

The EPMU was shut out from gaining access to workers at the laboratory, who weren't allowed to speak anything other than English in their place of work.

Now the Labour Department is investigating whether the company qualifies for exemption.

The head of the company in question, Maurice Clist, spoke to One News on Thursday, but declined to speak on camera due to religious reasons. He stressed that he is a law-abiding citizen with nothing to hide and has no problem with any investigation.

Clist is believed to be an Exclusive Brethren, the grounds on which he's seeking an exemption.

"Exclusive Brethren have consistently sought exemptions under the law for unionisation, for all kinds of social intermingling and of course to separate ungodly members of the family and godly members of the family and that of course has been the source of a lot of contention," said Professor Peter Lineham, an expert on Exclusive Brethren. 

A submission being considered on the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill now has the EPMU worried.

"What is more concerning is that we know that the Brethren Church has made submissions to parliament to try to extend the current provision in the law to protect not just individual Exclusive Brethren but their entire companies," said Andrew Little.

The EPMU plans to approach politicians to intervene, before any law changes go through parliament in September.