Working people should be concerned at the Government's delay on progressing the Health and Safety Reform Bill. This legislation must not be watered down to appease a minority.
The Pike River mine disaster showed our workplace health and safety laws were not fit for purpose. Since that time, an inquiry and taskforce resulted in new health and safety laws being drafted based on much stronger Australian laws.
These new laws have the support of unions and major groups of employers who recognise a safe workplace is a productive one.
It is important that workers have a say in the workplace on health and safety. The Government should get on and pass this much-needed bill before more lives are lost in unsafe New Zealand workplaces.
Ben Hathaway
Secretary, Whangarei Branch
Maritime Union of New Zealand
