Government must not abandon health and safety reform

While resistance in the National Party caucus delays the passage of the Health and Safety Reform Bill, FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid says there should be no health and safety law exceptions for small businesses and farmers.

“Some MPs within the National Party appear to be pushing to retain the status quo, the same status quo that led to workplace disasters like the Pike River Mine explosion”.

“Worker safety cannot be ignored and the Government should not cave to pressure from MPs, small businesspeople and farmers who want to minimise obligations to provide a safe workplace”.

“Usually, in the absence of strong regulation, a right wing government would implement an incentive instead. The opponents of reform appear to want neither”.

“We know from the pain of experience that without strong legal standards some businesses will do the bare minimum to protect workers. There is another workplace disaster waiting to happen and the government must not reject the opportunity to prevent it”.

ENDS

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