WorkSafe latest restructure proposal is putting at risk
the organisation’s success in lowering serious injuries
and deaths among kaimahi Māori.
Under the proposal,
released to staff on 20 May, the organisation would no
longer have a dedicated function focussed on reducing the
injury rate for Māori, Pasifika and migrant workers, said
Jack McDonald the Kaihautū Māori for the PSA Te Pūkenga
Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Decentralising this capability
will put at risk a successful approach that has seen the
rate for serious injuries for kaimahi Māori compared with
non-Māori fall from 55% in 2018-2022 down to 30% in 2024,”
McDonald said.
“We know from experience that spreading
culturally skilled workers thinly across organisation
dilutes their influence and makes them less effective than
when they operate as part of a team.
“Kaimahi Māori
are most effective when they are working together and
connected to their culture,” McDonald said.
“The
proposed changes would create 16 additional permanent
positions, as well as 19 fixed-term positions, which is a
welcome increase for a stretched agency. However, it shows
that the move to decentralise cultural capability is driven
by ideology rather than a need to cut costs,” McDonald
said.
“It is beyond belief that it’s proposed to
move away from a centralised model that has produced proven
results because of the Coalition Government’s obsession
with stripping te reo Māori and tikanga Māori out of
public services.
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“People’s health and safety, and
lives, are being put at risk at the expense of the
Coalition’s “one-size-fits-all” approach to delivering
public services.
“While great progress has been made
there is still a lot more work to be done to further reduce
the injury rate for Māori, and other vulnerable workers,
Pasifika and migrant workers.
“A large number of
Māori, Pasifika and migrant workers are employed in
high-risk occupations like forestry, agriculture,
manufacturing and construction. This means they are
disproportionally represented in workplace death and injury
statistics.
“It makes sense to keep together the
people with the cultural knowledge, language and networks to
work effectively with these high-risk groups where there is
a proven need.
“Dedicated capability would be needed
even more with the Māori and Pasifika workforce being
younger and growing faster than the general
population.
“The rapid growth of the Māori economy
and Pasifika business ownership also means there will be
increased demand for WorkSafe to provide culturally
appropriate advice to employers,” McDonald
said.
Notes:
Examples of Government cuts to
Māori capability
Cuts to ACC Māori, Pasifika and
disability roles: Govt
cuts come for Māori, Pasifika, disability roles at
ACC
Removing references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
principles in 19 laws: Removing
Te Tiriti principles will do lasting damage to public
services
Extensive cuts at Te Puni Kōkiri: Govt’s
extreme anti-Māori agenda ramps up with another 27 roles
proposed to go at Te Puni Kōkiri
Cuts to Māori
Public Health team: Ministry
of Health proposes slashing top public health
experts
IR cuts Māori Research team: Disestablishing
IR’s Māori research team will disadvantage whānau –
PSA
StatsNZ disestablish its Tangata Tiriti
Learning Capability Team: Statistics
NZ proposes axing Māori Learning Capability team in latest
cull
Pharmac removes Te Tiriti policy: PSA
condemns Pharmac move to dismantle Te Tiriti policy and
Māori
protections
