CTU corrects Minister on H&S Taskforce advice

Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 1:28 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

CTU Media Release

7 August 2013

CTU corrects Minister on H&S Taskforce advice

The Minister today released advice to Cabinet saying that the Taskforce recommended that the board be supported by a tripartite advisory group and to disestablish the Workplace Health and Safety Council.

The Taskforce in fact said the opposite and recommended the board should be tripartite and that they did not support the board be supported by a tripartite advisory group.
“We hope this helps the Minister understand the Taskforce recommendations more clearly,” said Helen Kelly, CTU President, “tripartism is an essential element that should be evident throughout the system to ensure adequate worker voice in health and safety.”
ENDS

NOTE to Editors:

The Minister today released advice to Cabinet saying:

"The Taskforce recommended that the board of the new regulator be supported by a tripartite advisory group, and that the Workplace Health and Safety Council be disestablished. Submitters to the Taskforce raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Council in its current form, in particular, that it was “invisible and lacks impact”.
Cabinet overview paper

The Taskforce in fact said :

Paragraph 204, p. 49 “… the Taskforce does not consider that there needs to be a separate tripartite group providing advice to the board. Nor do we support the alternative approach of an independent board that is not constituted on tripartite basis but that is supported by a tripartite advisory group.”

It recommended instead:

1. Establish a new workplace health and safety agency with a clear identity and brand, and statutorily defined functions:
a. It should be a Crown agent
b. The new agency should be constituted on a tripartite basis
c. The new agency should have primary responsibility for workplace harm prevention, including strategy and implementation

ENDS

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