More Freedom for Innovation

The Employment Minister states in a March 19th press release that he wants “ideas about how we can regain control of our working lives”. “To resurrect the Employment Contracts Act so individuals have more independence in choosing their working conditions and allowing the self-employed to break free from State-run ACC and take on accident insurance of their own choosing could both be appropriate,” Nick Barber, Christian Heritage Party spokesperson for Economic Development, says.

“Then self-employed and skilled workers could take responsibility for their own health and safety environment instead of being policed by ACC and OSH staff with limited knowledge of the tasks and specific safety steps required for skills to be fully utilised,” he added.

“The Minister could also take steps to reduce the paperwork burden on small businesses and enable more skilled innovative workers to become self-employed, and thus control their work environment and develop those creative and innovative businesses that are said to be the hope of New Zealand's future.

Further, Government should call a halt to its endless rounds of talk fests, simplify small business administration and let the innovative people of NZ have more control over their working lives,” Mr Barber concluded.