Labour-hire firm adopts ethical standards in landmark move
Along with a growing number of businesses requesting more ethical workforce solutions and evidence of loopholes in
labour-hire law that allows the gross exploitation of hard-working New Zealanders, FIRST Union, the largest union
representing labour-hire workers, is pleased to announce labour-hire firm Enterprise Recruitment has signed on as the
first company to be an ethical employer in the labour-hire workspace.
The union is commending Enterprise Recruitment for the company’s adoption of ethical labour-hire standards. The union
and the labour-hire firm have together developed a set of five core principles to ensure that labour-hire workers’
ability to enforce their rights is not compromised. The deal was signed at FIRST Union’s biennial conference today in
Auckland.
FIRST Union’s Transport Logistics and Manufacturing Secretary, Jared Abbott, says Enterprise Recruitment’s decision to
adopt the principles highlighted the level of respect the company had for its field workers.
“There is a place for genuine labour-hire arrangements, however we have seen employers use the process to circumvent
traditional employment at the expense of vulnerable workers. Enterprise Recruitment is the first labour-hire firm to
ever sign up to a set of Ethical Standards of this nature in New Zealand.”
Enterprise Recruitment Director Warwick Neutze says Enterprise Recruitment is pleased to have worked in close
cooperation with FIRST Union to develop the standard.
“The core principles of this agreement are in line with our goals of valuing people and partnerships and our genuine
desire to find people a role that improves their life, and we see this as confirming our commitment to putting the
welfare of our workers first.”
With a growing number of businesses requesting more ethical workforce solutions and evidence of loopholes in labour-hire
law that allows the gross exploitation of hard-working New Zealanders, FIRST Union is hoping more companies will adopt
similar principles in how they engage third-party labour.
The standards support third party labour being engaged in a professional and lawful way that works in the best interest
of the worker, the customer, and the employer.
The basis of the five core principles are:
• Workers should be treated appropriately and not as day-by-day workers
• Labour-hire workers should not be contracted out in a way which undermines their rights under the Employment Relations
Act
• Workers should be entitled to a relevant and fair rate of pay pertaining to the work they are performing.
• Labour-hire workers must have the opportunity to contribute to a collective voice
• Appropriate resources should be allocated to ensure worker and industry standards are maintained; training, education,
auditing and enforcement, health initiatives, skills development and recognition, and appropriate company standards
ranking systems must all be adequately resourced to give labour-hire workers access to a safe, fair and engaging work
environment.
ENDS