NZCTU MEDIA RELEASE
28 September 2006

Put a human face on compliance please Business NZ

Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson today called on Business New Zealand to remember the human face of regulation and legislative protections, as they release their annual moan about compliance facing businesses.

“Is it an unnecessary health and safety compliance to ensure there are systems in place so that the industrial shredder accident in Taranaki a few months ago doesn’t happen again?”

“Or to have strong food safety standards so that we don’t see a repeat of the meatball food poisoning incident?

“And is Business New Zealand suggesting that we should have removed the employment rights of the 15 year old worker in Auckland who was pushed around and sworn at by his boss for seven months, and take away his right to raise a personal grievance?”

“Regulations and legislative provisions are in place to protect New Zealanders - whether it is ensuring health and safety, minimising harm, protecting workers or upholding the quality and international reputation of our good and services," said Ross Wilson.

"A high quality regulatory and legislative framework is an important part of building the higher value economy, not a nuisance that gets in the way of it, and the CTU will continue to argue that high standards are maintained, especially in relation to health and safety and labour," he said.

ENDS

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