Ms Tara Buckley:

As I said earlier, some of this can be addressed by the public. I pointed out that we have not come across any instance of this type of grievance in our members' stores. Our members, in general, when they employ part-time staff, have a flexibility clause in the contract and they know many of the people they employ well. If they are parents, they work in the mornings and want to be finished to fit in with school times. The employers knows that. They might have students who work weekends and work shifts. If an issue comes up, people can swap their hours with each other. We are not aware that this grievance has come up. Our members say most of their part-time workers want to work about 20 to 23 hours a week. They are not pushing our members to give them extra hours. They are happy with that number. This matter has not come up as an issue. Our members' concern is that this Bill, if enacted, would introduce regulation with which they have to comply, but they feel a little aggrieved because this issue is not a problem in their stores. If they are not treating their staff well, their customers would not come into the shop, and the town will know about it. That is the point we are trying to make. We agree that if there are unscrupulous employers, that needs to be addressed, but a measure should not be introduced that would be used crack the nut with everyone.