Speech notes for Minister for Social Development & Employment Ruth Dyson address to the coalition for Quality Flexible Work - venue: Wellington 

Rau rangatira maa,

tenei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ra.

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

[Distinguished guests, greetings to you gathered here for this purpose today. Greetings once, twice, three times to you all.]

It is a huge pleasure to be here to celebrate the legal right to ask for flexible work.  Congratulations to Green MP, Sue Kedgley for her initiative.  I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues (Select Committee and in Parliament) as well as NZ First, Maori, United Future, Progressive and the two independent MPs that supported the Flexible Working Arrangements bill.  I would also like to acknowledge employers who already offer flexible work and will help us bring other employers into a new environment.

Sue said there is still more to be done.  Flexible working arrangements is not a favour from employers to workers – but it does take some effort, more so in some work places.

To quote the leader of another party – “This is just common sense”.

This is the first step for all workers.

I would like to thank the Flexible work coalition for all their good old fashioned lobbying.

Congratulations to everyone and yahoo!!  This is the first step in making our workplaces fit for purpose.