We are excited to share some positive news for our sector; Stats NZ has just announced a significant update following their recent public consultation on occupation classifications. This is a great first step towards securing the changes we need for scaffolding and rigging to be fully recognised, which will play a critical role in unlocking residency pathways for migrant workers.
A big thank you to all our members
I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of you who engaged in this process by submitting letters, sharing stories, and providing feedback. Your involvement was crucial and one of the key reasons we saw success in pushing forward with these changes. Your voices made a difference, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
What does this mean?
Stats NZ has decided to move forward with a tailored occupational classification system for New Zealand. This is a shift from the previous joint system with Australia (ANZSCO), and it allows us to develop classifications that better reflect the realities of our workforce. Essentially, it means we’re getting closer to having our work formally recognised in the way we’ve been pushing for.
Next steps
We’ll be urgently consulting with officials from both Stats NZ and Immigration NZ to ensure our sector is included in the first iteration of the new National Occupation List (NOL), which will be released on 20November 2024. The goal is to ensure we have the right settings in place so that our workers can access pathways to residency, providing certainty for our migrant workers who are critical to the success of our industry.
We will keep you updated as this progresses and encourage you to stay engaged as we push forward in this important advocacy work.
Status of current advocacy documents:
Health and Safety Act Consultation: Member feedback urgently needed
This is a critical moment for our industry. Our submission for the Health and Safety Act Consultation is underway, and we are calling on all members to review the attached draft and provide feedback by October 18th 2024. Your input is vital in shaping the final submission, which will address key areas such as regulation clarity, updates to Plant and Structure standards, and advocating for stronger WorkSafe support.
Please take the time to review the submission and send your thoughts to us before the deadline. The final submission will be made by October 30th, and your voice is essential to ensuring we represent the needs of our entire sector.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Consultation: Submission completed
We’ve successfully submitted our feedback for the AEWV review, which was focused on simplifying processes and ensuring that residency pathways for migrant workers are prioritized. Without residency options, the AEWV will fail to meet the long-term needs of our industry, and we’ve emphasised this strongly in our submission. A copy is attached for your reference.
ACC Levy Consultation: Submission completed
Our submission for the ACC Levy Consultation has also been completed. In it, we’ve raised important points regarding the rising costs of levies, the experience rating system, and the need for transparent pricing that works for businesses. We’re advocating for better support for employers in managing claims and driving a fairer, more balanced levy structure.
