13 Feb 2012

Govt advised not to 'Mondayise' holidays

7:22 pm on 13 February 2012

The Labour Department has recommended against transferring the statutory holidays for Waitangi Day and Anzac Day to Monday, when they fall on the weekend.

Last year workers missed out on two statutory holidays because Waitangi Day was on a Sunday, while Anzac Day coincided with Easter Monday.

But a Labour Party member's bill (the Holidays Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and Anzac Day Amendment Bill), due due to be debated in about six weeks would allow the holidays to be observed on the next Monday.

Prime Minister John Key says advice from the Labour Department suggests it would cost business $200 million for each holiday transferred.

He says he understands that people would prefer to have the day off, but it has to be factored against what it would cost businesses and the economy overall.

Mr Key says the National Party is yet to decide how it will vote on the matter.