New Zealand has passed a law that would remove the legal right of employees to take a "tea break" and weaken the power of collective bargaining. As reported in the New Zealand Herald, it was the first law National has passed following Prime Minister John Key's re-election for the third time.

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill gained the support of National, Act and United Future parties. Despite strong opposition from Labour, Greens, NZ First and the Maori Party, the bill was passed into law with 62 votes against 58.

According to National, the new law will allow employees to be flexible in the labour market. Labour's Iain Lees-Galloway remarked it was against the promise made by Mr Key on election night when he said he is going to protect the interests of New Zealanders. He also claimed National had undermined the rights of employees including their health and safety in the workplace. Lees-Galloway believes the law was passed to "keep wages down."

Reports said the bill removes guaranteed meal breaks in exchange for employers to pay workers extra. National has argued that tea breaks have become inflexible to some since workers in sole-charge positions who are required to take breaks have become impractical.

Unions also reacted to the weakening of collective bargaining as the new law gives employers the option not to be part of a collective agreement even if the workers have voted for one. Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse explained that National had pushed for the changes to make the labour market more flexible. The bill's passage into law is the result of the government's campaign.

According to New Zealand Herald, Woodhouse said there is a need for balanced but flexible employment relations legislation for businesses to grow. He added that the bill not only promotes business growth but retains worker protection as well.

Furthermore, Helen Kelly, secretary of the Council of Trade Unions, said the recent bill has made New Zealand one of the OECD countries with some of the worst worker protections. She said the law "attacks workers" at their most vulnerable with a weak collective bargaining.