CTU MEDIA RELEASE
02 October 2006

Better Recognition of Work Related Disease Welcomed by CTU

The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed moves announced today by the ACC Minister to improve recognition of occupational illness under our ACC scheme.

“The CTU welcomes a broadening of the coverage of occupational diseases covered under Schedule 2 as a step towards better recognition of what has long been the 'Cinderella’ of our ACC scheme,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

"This review announced today, and the Ministerial Advisory Panel which reported back in March, are playing an important role in helping to bring a greater focus on the under-recognition of occupational disease.”

"The National Occupation Health and Safety Advisory Committee have previously highlighted that up to 1000 New Zealanders die each year from work-related diseases, and there are up to 20,000 new cases of work-related disease annually.”

“We support the government’s moves to provide better support for working New Zealanders who contract work-related illnesses and disease,” said Ross Wilson. “We will submit in favour of extending the schedule, so that the burden of proof is lessened on workers who suffer occupational diseases when there is a clear evidential link between their illness and their work.”

ENDS

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