Employee rights

All employees in New Zealand, whether they are full-time, part-time, permanent, fixed term or casual must have terms and conditions in their employment agreement which are at least as good as the minimum rights in the law.
All employers must provide their employees with a signed, written employment agreement. Even if you have already accepted a verbal offer for a job, you must sign a written agreement before you start work. You should read through the whole agreement to ensure that you are happy with the terms. If you have questions are unsure then make sure you ask the employer before signing.
The minimum rights and responsibilities protect an employee by setting the minimum rights of an employee and making sure that all employees are safe at work and not unlawfully discriminated against, bullied or harassed.
Minimum rights include:

• Four weeks paid annual holiday per year
• Eleven public holidays per year
• Payment of time and a half for working on public holidays
• Five days paid sick leave per year after 6 months of employment
• Three days bereavement pay
• Up to 52 weeks Parental leave
• Rest and meal breaks must be provided
• Relevant minimum wage must be paid
• Overtime paid at minimum wage per hour
• Payment of wages to be made in cash
• Unpaid leave for jury service