NZCTU MEDIA RELEASE
28 September 2006
Put a human face on compliance please Business NZ
Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson today called on Business New Zealand to remember the human face of
regulation and legislative protections, as they release their annual moan about compliance facing businesses.
“Is it an unnecessary health and safety compliance to ensure there are systems in place so that the industrial shredder
accident in Taranaki a few months ago doesn’t happen again?”
“Or to have strong food safety standards so that we don’t see a repeat of the meatball food poisoning incident?
“And is Business New Zealand suggesting that we should have removed the employment rights of the 15 year old worker in
Auckland who was pushed around and sworn at by his boss for seven months, and take away his right to raise a personal
grievance?”
“Regulations and legislative provisions are in place to protect New Zealanders - whether it is ensuring health and
safety, minimising harm, protecting workers or upholding the quality and international reputation of our good and
services," said Ross Wilson.
"A high quality regulatory and legislative framework is an important part of building the higher value economy, not a
nuisance that gets in the way of it, and the CTU will continue to argue that high standards are maintained, especially
in relation to health and safety and labour," he said.
ENDS