Recruitment and Consulting Services Association gives tick to Budget

The recruitment and labour-hire sector has given a tick to the following measures announced earlier today in the Budget:

1. Innovate New Zealand package

i. Increased funding for apprenticeships to meet the growing shortages and demand for skilled trades

ii. Maori and Pacifica Trades Training and Employment Services.

iii. Greater support for students to increase education and improve their transitions to work

iv. Funding to support these initiatives in regional areas – recognises that opportunities for employment and the most vulnerable are possible in NZ’s major cities and rural areas

2. Social Investment Fund

i. Measures that will address long term unemployment before it begins

ii. Workforce training and development for carers

iii. Youth support for 19 year old parents and 18/19 year old job seekers

iv. Early intervention in-school and through support for students

i. Increased number of training places to transition into work more people that are currently not in Work, Education or Employment

3. SME tax package will encourage compliance and reduce the burden on small businesses so they can focus on growth and increasing employment.

4. Canterbury region will continue to grow and prosper and create greater opportunities for employment.

What’s not included:

ACC and promotion of safer work practices

Recruitment and labour-hire industry has been calling for a move by ACC to an incentivise businesses with low experience ratings and shift the burden to those with high experience ratings.

As a budget that focuses on ‘investing in a growing economy’ this measure would assist in the promotion of safer work practices and shift the focus to dangerous industries which should bear the greater cost of workplace injury and rehabilitation.

ENDS

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