Actors unions are welcoming a repeal of The Hobbit law, proposed by the new Labour Government.

The new Labour Government has promised to get the ball rolling on repealing the controversial 'Hobbit law' in its first 100 days in office.

Incoming Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway told Radio New Zealand that restoring workers' rights was a priority.

"We're looking to restore a lot of workers rights that have been diminished over the last nine years and that is a priority for us. It's something that we want to have the legislation at least introduced within the first 100 days of government," he said.

GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF Incoming Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said they'll get the ball rolling to give actors more rights in Government's first 100 days in office.

The Hobbit law, the commonly referred name for the Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill, was passed through government in 2010 - at the time The Hobbit was being made.

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It meant that workers in the film industry were engaged as independent contractors, rather than as employees.

RNZ New Zealand actors are welcoming plans to scrap the so-called 'Hobbit law' that prevents film workers from collective bargaining.

"Our current law as it was changed by the previous government denies one group of workers in one industry, a right which is actually guaranteed to them by a number of international labour organisations which New Zealand is signed up to so we're in breach of a number of conventions right now," Lees-Galloway said.

Organiser for Equity NZ Melissa Ansell-Bridges, who runs the union for actors, said under the new bill proposed by the National Government actors and others in the film industry weren't able to bargain collectively for better treatment, with union representatives.

She said New Zealand had a recommended contract only - an individual performance agreement - and it was sometimes ignored.

National, ACT, the Maori Party and UnitedFuture supported the bill when it was passed through government. Labour and the Green Party voted against it.

Former National Prime Minister John Key said at the time that without the law change, the two Hobbit films would have been a "no go" for New Zealand because Warner Brothers had concerns about the country's industrial laws, he said.

As a result, the government offered to change labour laws and offered the film studio subsidies to continue making films in New Zealand.

It was later revealed by The Dominion Post that the deal was already signed before the bill was rushed through parliament.

Ansell-Bridges welcomed Labour's commitment, saying it would "re-balance the playing field" for actors and producers when bargaining collectively.

"When you feel like you have the support of all your colleagues, that's a really empowering position," she said.

"We're definitely excited by these (proposed) changes."

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