28 February 2013

MoBIE decision disrespectful to workers

Leaving 135 public service workers in limbo is the worst possible way to start the restructure of health and safety in New Zealand, Green Party industrial relations spokesperson Denise Roche said today.

All 135 health and safety inspectors within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MoBIE) have been told this week that their roles have been disestablished. They now have to reapply for new positions.

“Not knowing if you will have a job in a few weeks’ time will lead to many high quality public servants looking for employment elsewhere,” said Ms Roche.

“This will create a shortfall in qualified staff to oversee New Zealand’s health and safety regime.

“Disestablishing workers positions will also be terrible for the overall morale of those working as health and safety inspectors.

“This decision will undoubtedly lead to a very stressful and unpleasant time for those workers affected,” said Ms Roche.

“New Zealand needs our health and safety inspectors to be 100% focussed on keeping workers safe.

“Destroying any sense of job stability in our health and safety inspectorate can only have a negative effect,” Ms Roche said.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>