Media Releases
Migration fuelling Auckland residential construction
2 March 2006
The Department of Labour is about to launch one of its largest concentrated compliance campaigns, aimed at the Auckland construction industry.
The campaign, to be held over five days in March, will see 14 of the Department’s health and safety inspectors converge on Auckland. They will be visiting 160 construction sites, to lift the level of health and safety legislation compliance.
The Department’s chief advisor, health and safety Mike Cosman said the campaign was about getting the basics right. Inspectors would be looking for safe working practices in safe environments.
“The industry is on notice that it needs to get its act together before inspectors arrive.”
Mr Cosman said residential construction was a high-risk, high-ACC claim sector. Auckland was the target because it accounted for 40 percent of national projects undertaken in New Zealand. More construction occurred in Auckland than in the entire South Island, he said.
“South and East Auckland, in particular, have seen huge growth in terms of migrants and the necessary infrastructural development and construction to support the new and growing populations,” Mr Cosman said.
“Many of these employers and contractors, especially if they are new migrants themselves, are unsure of their health and safety obligations, and many workers are likely to be unclear of their statutory entitlements.
“In such a diverse community, we have to make a concerted effort to instil good work practices and safety awareness from the ground up.”
He said the campaign would have spin-offs for the rest of the country, as the Auckland construction industry had a huge influence on work ethics and practices adopted elsewhere in New Zealand.
While the emphasis is on health and safety, the Department’s employment
relations and immigration services could also get involved if major breaches
of the employment and immigration laws are identified.
To the journalist: please note that health and safety services formerly
referred to as Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) should now be referred
to as the Department of Labour.
ENDS
