OSH law must change - Sowry

National Party pressure over new OSH legislation appears to be taking its toll on the Government.

“We’ve been calling for weeks to get volunteers excluded from the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill, now the Government is poised for a back-down,” says National Industrial Relations spokesman Roger Sowry.

The Bill could lead to $250,000 fines if a volunteer’s injured while helping out at a local club that has just one paid employee.

“Last month, a number of Labour MP’s voted in favour of this key clause, now it’s destined for the dust-bin - the rest of the legislation now needs a re-think too,” says Mr Sowry.

“Today we’re writing to the heads of all sporting and community groups asking them to join us in our battle to stop this ill-conceived law dead in its tracks.

“It has the potential to destroy volunteerism in New Zealand.

"This is another Margaret Wilson reject, an embarrassing back-down for the Government now seems inevitable.

“National will fight tooth and nail to make sure sporting groups aren’t hit by the same fines that’ll apply to big business," says Mr Sowry.

© Scoop Media