MBIE’s Pacific Economic Development Unit is encouraging Pasifika people to consider careers in the Information Computer Technology (ICT) world. The initiative forms part of TechWeek 2018 activities, TechWeek will run from 19 – 27 May 2018.

While the business community’s response to a worker shortage in the Bay of Plenty is well known, workers who’re dealing with these issues every day have not yet had their say.

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill is an attack on the rights of non-union workers, BusinessNZ says.

Mar 29, 2018  -  BusinessNZ urges businesses to make a submission on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill before the closing date of Good Friday.

Mar 28, 2018  -  Employers have repeatedly told the EMA that 90-day trial periods are a valuable and useful asset to have when employing staff and they want them to remain.

Mar 26,  2018  - Recently, Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway was quoted as saying workers had not had a fair share of economic growth, and the boost to the minimum wage was only one part of the Government's strategy.

Mar 21, 2018  -  A Labour bill that has been languishing for more than a decade will finally be resuscitated. Shane Cowlishaw reports.

Women make up just over half of New Zealand's population, yet currently they comprise just 17 per cent of the nation's construction industry.  Recently Jenny Parker, the President of the National Association of Women in Construction in New Zealand (NAWIC), visited the Ara Institute of Canterbury's Woolston campus to speak to women trades students and discuss this imbalance of women in trades.

Mar 13, 2018  -  Cleaning contractor, ISS has gagged the cleaners at Auckland Meat Processors, to stop them speaking out against cuts to a third of the plant’s cleaning staff.

AMP is owned by Wilson Hellaby which the cleaners have been told is behind the cuts.

Five of the 15-strong cleaning team received letters last week telling them they are now redundant and offering them redeployment options.

The cleaners believe the cuts will compromise hygiene standards at the plant and they want to go public.

However, they have been told not to speak to media, and they fear for their jobs.

Senior Organiser, Len Richards says most of Auckland’s beef supply is processed at the plant and Countdown is its major customer.

“This is a major meat supplier and it’s disgraceful that the cleaners have been muzzled to stop them airing legitimate worries about the safety of these cuts,” says Len.

He says the redundant workers have been offered casual work at the plant which suggests these are not genuine redundancies.

“It seems their real intention is to axe the secure, full-time jobs these workers had and to casualise them, so it can save money on decent conditions like sick leave and holiday pay.

“For this wealthy company to target its lowest paid, most vulnerable workers this way is miserable.”

Other jobs offered to the redundant cleaners are for only up to 25 hours a week, which the cleaners can’t live on.

“This whole episode is disgraceful,” says Len.

“We would urge Wilson Hellaby to advise ISS that the cuts are no longer required and to reinstate these workers.”

| An E tū release   || March 13, 2018   |||

When just 14 people expressed interest to be a fruit-picker for this season, the Ministry of Social Development this Monday declared a regional labour shortage. The declaration would run from March 12 until April 6.