Future of Work Commission Bill

1. Title

This Act is the Future of Work Commission Act 2020.

2. Commencement

This Act comes into force the day after it receives the Royal Assent.

3. Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to establish a specialised, independent Future of Work Commission, to examine the impacts of technological innovation and develop long-term strategies for jobs. The Commission will find ways to overcome the threat of insecure work, casualisation and automation, as well as the new opportunities technological advancement creates. It will model a four day work week without loss of pay, and explore the prospect of introducing a universal basic income.

4. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

Commission means the Future of Work Commission established by section 6

5. Act to bind the Crown

This Act binds the Crown.

6. Establishment of Commission

1) There is established a Commission to be called the Future of Work Commission.

2) The Commission will be an Office of Parliament, meaning that:

a) the commission will be appointed by and report to Parliament; and

b) the commission can independently prepare reports without government oversight.

7. Functions of Commission

The functions of the Commission are-

a) to investigate and prepare reports on-

i) how to ensure technology and automation are used to make people’s lives better, not worse;

ii) how the Parliament can overcome the persistent threats of insecure work, casualisation, and flat wages;

iii) how the Parliament can boost government services in order to lift wages and improve the quality of life for communities;

iv) how to ensure productivity gains flow through to higher wages or more time off for people to pursue the things that they value;

vi) a model for tackling underemployment by moving to a four day work week without loss of pay for full time workers in New Zealand;

vii) how to enshrine work-life balance as a workplace right for employees;

viii) further development of an evidence-base for potentially implementing a universal basic income in New Zealand; and

ix) a new blueprint for social services and income support to ensure everyone’s standard of living is lifted and poverty is ended.

-and;

b) to ensure the Parliament is informed the impact on the workforce of important statistics that are relevant to the Commission’s work including, but not limited to:

i) the level of casualisation in the workplace;

ii) the level of unemployment and underemployment;

iii) the level of automation in the workplace; and

iv) the level of productivity and wage growth.

8. Membership of Commission

1) The Commission will consist of eleven experts appointed by Parliament, with the aim of having a broad panel of experts representing economics, employment, workforce, and labour.

2) At least 2 of the persons appointed as members of the Commission must be persons who, in the opinion of the Chair of the Commission, after consultation with the Minister of Māori Affairs, are qualified for appointment, having regard to their knowledge of Māori Affairs.

3) Appointments to the Commission must be consulted about with the Chair of the Commission.

9. Annual report

The Commission will be required to produce an annual report to advise the Parliament on-

a) the government’s progress of implementing any recommendations by the Commission that are accepted by the Parliament;

b) the key statistics that are relevant to the Commission’s functions as laid out in section 7(b);

c) highlighting any problems with the government’s approach; and

d) advising the Parliament on any further steps that are deemed needed.

Explanatory Note

General policy statement

The very nature of work is changing before our eyes. From casualisation, automation, overworked or underutilised staff - we need to plan for a better working future. People should have access to meaningful work, alongside the freedom to pursue meaning outside of work. A specialised, independent Future of Work Commission will help us to chart a pathway forward so that we can all work to live and not just live to work.

Underemployment can be reduced with job creation programs, as well as policies targeted at those who are overworked, like a shorter working day or a four day working week, with secure employment conditions. This independent Commission would examine the challenges we face and guide a pathway forward to both seize new opportunities and minimise the negative impacts of disruption on New Zealand’s workforce. Additionally, the introduction of a universal basic income in New Zealand has been a fierce debate in recent years and the Commission would explore the prospects of this.

Section by section analysis

• Section 1 is the title section.
• Section 2 is the commencement section. It provides for the bill to come into force on the day after the date on which it receives Royal Assent.
• Section 3 is the purpose section.
• Section 4 is the interpretation section.
• Section 5 sets out that the bill will bind the crown.
• Section 6 established the Future of Work Commission as an Office of Parliament which allows it to operate without government oversight.
• Section 7 sets out the functions of the Future of Work Commission. The section is long and straightforward so a summary of the functions would be inefficient.
• Section 8 provides the requirements for the membership of the Future of Work Commission. It will consist of eleven experts appointed by Parliament with at least 2 of the persons appointed being persons with knowledge of Māori Affairs.
• Section 9 requires the Future of Work Commission to produce an annual report to report on the government’s progress of implementing any recommendations by the Commission that are accepted by the Parliament, laying out the key statistics that are relevant to the Commission’s functions, highlighting any problems with the government’s approach, and advising the Parliament on any further steps that are needed.

B.302 - Future of Work Commission Bill was authored by /u/BHjr132 (Greens) and is sponsored by the Minister of Business, /u/Youmaton (Labour), on behalf of the government.

Debate will conclude at 6 PM, 29/07/2020.