The Government’s latest plan for making workplaces safer won’t work when WorkSafe lacks the resources to be the tough regulator it needs to be.

"We have an appalling safety record in this country, and this plan fails to invest more in WorkSafe so it can do a better job of ensuring workers come home safe and sound," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

WorkSafe has received no extra Budget funding from this government and almost one in five workers has been shown the door in recent years. Jobs axed include health specialists, advisors, researchers, evaluators and legal kaimahi who support WorkSafe inspectors and whose role is to educate businesses and protect workers from poor health and safety practices.

"Nothing in this plan today adequately responds to our fatality record which is around double that of Australia.

"Employers should be fearful about prosecution if they don't keep worker safe and alive. But the Government is happy to take the pressure off businesses and water down the enforcement activities of WorkSafe.

"It’s not good enough. WorkSafe is recruiting more inspectors, but not nearly enough. Australia has 11 inspectors for every 100,000 workers, while New Zealand has 6.5 and turnover remains high.

"Guidance for businesses needs to be updated, so they know how to reduce harm in the workplace, but they can’t do it alone. Only a well resourced WorkSafe can do that working alongside business.

"The hotline to report road cones, which are a safety tool for motorists and workers, is a red herring. It says everything we need to know about the Government's priorities.

"It’s not enough to end pay equity, now the Government is coming after our health and safety protections as well. It’s appalling."

Notes

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

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