The Government's Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading in parliament, meaning rest and meal break provisions are now more flexible.

The Bill passed its third reading with National, ACT and United Future in support – the final vote was 62 per cent in support of the Bill and 58 against it.

National says the Bill enables employers and employees to agree to the timing and duration of rest and meal breaks.

The Government's bill sought changes to clauses 43 and 46 of the bill – these are the rules that govern rules for employees' entitlements to rest and meal breaks.

The former provision requires employers to provide the employee break and meal times. In a typical working eight hour day these are two 10 minute paid breaks and 30 minutes unpaid meal time.

Minister of workplace relations and safety Michael Woodhouse says 'It will help to build sustained economic growth through a more responsive labour market, while providing certainty for employers and employees around workplace rights and obligations.”

Among other changes, the Bill increases choice and flexibility in collective bargaining, with the Employment Relations Authority now able to declare whether collective bargaining has concluded.

'It extends the right to request flexible working arrangements to all workers, not just caregivers, and these requests can now be made from the first day of employment.”

Michael says the Bill also makes changes to the continuity of employment provisions, known as Part 6A in the Act, for more vulnerable sectors of workers such as cleaners.

'Flexible and balanced employment relations legislation is essential for business to grow while ensuring protections for workers are retained.

'This Bill strikes the right balance to promote business growth while also retaining protections for workers.” For more information visit www.dol.govt.nz/er/services/law/legislationreviews/er-amendment-bill-2014.asp

Labour has long opposed the Bill; claiming it is an infringement of workers' rights.

NZ First, the Maori Party and the Green Party say the Bill presumes relationships between employers and employees were based on them having equal strength, but many low paid workers have little power and their collective right to bargaining, wages and working conditions would be undermined.

SunLive asked people in the community what their thoughts were on the Bill.

Watch the video above to see what they had to say.