Labour is proposing a revamp of industrial relations law to allow employees and small companies to join industry-wide collective agreements.
Industrial relations spokesperson Trevor Mallard MP says the change would benefit both employees and employers.
Under the plan, which was been discussed at Labour's annual conference in Auckland on Saturday, employees in small companies would be able to join industry-wide agreements negotiated at larger businesses.
Mr Mallard says it would not mark a return to the old national awards because individual workplaces would still have to agree to it.
He says employers would also benefit because they have become 'sick and tired' of constantly negotiating workplace and individual agreements.
Mr Mallard said amendments made to labour law by the previous Labour Government did not go far enough.