The object of this Part is to provide paid leave to certain employees to increase their knowledge about employment relations for the purpose of

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,

eligible employee in relation to a union or an employer,

employment relations education means employment relations education approved under section 72

specified date means

year means

(1) The Minister may, for the purposes of this Part, approve by notice in the Gazette, courses of employment relations education.

(2) The Minister may approve a course of employment relations education only if satisfied that the course will further the object of this Part.

(3) The Minister may delegate his or her power under subsection (1) to 1 or more persons.

(1) A union is entitled to allocate employment relations education leave to eligible employees in accordance with this Part.

(2) The maximum number of days of employment relations education leave that a union is entitled to allocate in a year in respect of an employer's eligible employees is the number of days calculated in accordance with section 74, unless the employer agrees to the allocation of additional days.

(3) The maximum number of days of employment relations education leave that a union is entitled to allocate in a year to an eligible employee is 5 days, unless the employee's employer agrees to the allocation of additional days.

(4) Employment relations education leave expires if it is not allocated by the end of the year in respect of which it is calculated under section 74, unless the employer agrees that the leave may be carried forward to the next year.

(1) The maximum number of days of employment relations education leave that a union is entitled to allocate in respect of an employer is based on the number of full-time equivalent eligible employees employed by the employer as at the specified date in a year, and is determined in accordance with the following table:

(2) For the purposes of calculating the number of full-time equivalent eligible employees employed by an employer,

(1) After calculating the maximum number of days of employment relations education leave, a union must give the employer concerned a notice containing

(2) The union must comply with subsection (1) within 1 month after the specified date in each year.

(3) Until a union complies with this section, the union must not allocate employment relations education leave.

(4) If a union fails to comply with subsections (1) and (2), the union forfeits one-twelfth of the employment relations education leave for each complete month that the failure continues.

(1) This section applies to a union that is a party to a collective agreement with 2 or more employers.

(2) A union may allocate employment relations education leave calculated in respect of an employer to 1 or more eligible employees of another employer only if, and to the extent that, the employers concerned agree, and subject to any terms and conditions agreed with the employers.

(1) A union allocates employment relations education leave to an eligible employee by giving a notice to the employee, and a copy of the notice to the employee's employer, that informs the employee

(2) The allocation of employment relations education leave does not, of itself, entitle the employee to take the leave.

(1) An eligible employee proposing to take employment relations education leave must tell his or her employer

(2) An eligible employee must not take employment relations education leave unless the employee complies with subsection (1) as soon as possible, but in any event no later than 14 days before the first day of such leave.

(3) An employer may refuse to allow an eligible employee to take employment relations education leave if the employer is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the employee taking employment relations education leave on the dates notified would unreasonably disrupt the employer's business.

(4) In subsection (2), day means a day of the week other than a day in the period beginning with 25 December in any year and ending with 5 January in the following year.

(1) An employer must pay to an eligible employee the employee's ordinary pay - as defined in the Holidays Act 2003 - for every day or part of a day taken by the employee as employment relations education leave.

(2) However, an employer is not required to comply with subsection (1) in respect of any day for which the eligible employee is paid weekly compensation under the Accident Insurance Act 1998.