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Workers Bear Brunt of Occupational Disease, Injury
NZCTU MEDIA RELEASE
27 April 2006
Workers Bearing the Brunt of Occupational Disease and Injury
"The report
of the National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory
Committee (NOHSAC) supports long expressed union concerns
that the costs of workplace disease and injury are born
largely by injured workers and their families," Council of
Trade Unions President Ross Wilson said today.
NOHSAC's report, released today, estimates the full cost of occupational disease and injury totals $20.9 billion annually, and that only 2% of total costs are compensated by government agencies such as ACC and the Ministry of Social Development.
"Tomorrow unions will launch a campaign calling for lump sum compensation for sufferers of asbestos related diseases," said Ross Wilson. "This is but one area where workers need better compensation and support for work related injuries and diseases."
The report also flagged the vital importance to the economy of improving our Occupational Safety and Health performance, Ross Wilson said.
"Unions are committed to playing their part in bringing down New Zealand's unacceptably high levels of workplace injury and disease, and we will continue to build on the network of 15,000 trained health and safety reps that have been making a real impact in New Zealand workplaces."
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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