Business has welcomed the changes, but unions have warned it will not reduce deaths and injuries at work
The Employers and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (EMA) has welcomed the change in WorkSafe's approach to a more engaging one to stamp out a climate of fear among businesses.
Paul Jarvie, EMA Manager of Employment Relations and Safety, said it was pleasing to see the government respond to businesses' call to make WorkSafe an "advisory-based regulator."
"These reforms will help modernise WorkSafe into a regulator that promotes compliance through education rather than fear," Jarvie said in a statement.
"This is a welcome and necessary change. For years, businesses – particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises – have felt they were being policed rather than supported."
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced on Tuesday that WorkSafe will refocus its approach to an engaging one to support businesses in managing their critical risks.
The shift comes as the minister noted that the regulator is feared for its punitive actions rather than appreciated for providing consistent guidance.
But the NZCTU slammed WorkSafe's initiative to move away from its enforcement capability as a return to a "failed approach."
"Every week a worker is killed on the job on average in New Zealand, and 17 more are killed from the impact of work-related illnesses and diseases. Every year there are over 30,000 injuries suffered that require more than a week away from work. Nothing in these announcements will have a positive effect on these numbers," said NZCTU president Richard Wagstaff in a statement.
Jarvie said there is a "climate of fear and concealment" among their members because of the enforcement-first approach of WorkSafe.
Businesses were reluctant to call WorkSafe for assistance because they were worried about being fined without getting the help or guidance they needed, according to the official.
"That feedback has come through strongly from our members for many years and Minister van Velden heard the concerns during her roadshow events with small to medium businesses last year. The EMA has been calling for a shift towards an enabling, advisory-based regulator – and it's pleasing to see the government respond," he said.
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) said it was not properly consulted on the changes, Radio New Zealand reported.
The NZCTU slammed WorkSafe's initiative to move away from its enforcement capability as a return to a "failed approach."
"Brooke van Velden continues to systematically gut WorkSafe to help protect businesses from enforcement of breaches of the law, rather than protecting the workers who suffer huge rates of injury and fatality as a result of work," said NZCTU president Richard Wagstaff in a statement.
Wagstaff told the Morning Report that changes at WorkSafe will only deter employees from raising concerns.
"What we need is a culture where workers are able to talk about what needs to be done on the job and what needs to be made safe, not one where they can be blamed for [it]," he said as quoted by RNZ.
The EMA also expressed support for the government's move to update and streamline more than 50 guidance documents, as well as involving the industry in developing Approved Codes of Practice.
"Industry knows its risks best," Jarvie said. "Empowering businesses to help shape the standards they work to – with proper regulatory oversight – is a smart, pragmatic approach that will deliver better compliance and ultimately, better outcomes for workers."
The EMA said it looks forward to working with the government, WorkSafe, and unions to ensure the transition achieves its purpose of modernising the regulator.
