Decent Work New Zealand
Towards Decent Work - Charting our progress
Objective 3: Activities, Strategies and/or Institutional Arrangements Developed to Address each Critical Success Factor
csf 10: More quality jobs are created.
Activity:
Support for small businesses
Description:
The Department of Labour provides information and assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the SME sector on workplace issues and opportunities. The Small Business Information Unit provides SME-targeted workplace practice information with and through Business NZ networks, such as Productivity Tool Kit workshops with Chambers of Commerce.
Lead Agency:
Department of Labour
Activity:
Work/Life Balance Project
Description:
The Work/Life Balance project is developing a policy programme to promote a better balance between paid work and life outside of work. A three year work programme is underway which includes a pilot project with workplaces, further policy work on a range of issues, activities to influence change in workplace cultures, and practices and research into work/life balance issues.
Lead Agency:
Department of Labour
Activity:
Work/Life Balance workplace project
Description:
The project identifies and promotes workplace policies and practices that help people to balance participation in paid work with the other activities that are important to them. An advisory group has been established to advise on proposed communications activities and products flowing on from the Workplace Pilots, identify opportunities for awareness raising around work-life balance and identify champions and influencers.
Lead Agency:
Department of Labour
Activity:
Workplace Productivity Agenda
Description:
The Workplace Productivity Agenda lifts productivity through awareness raising, providing workshops through Chambers of Commerce and developing diagnostic tools for businesses. Evaluation will include responses to the diagnostic tool, feedback from Chambers of Commerce and identifying gaps in awareness-raising.
Lead Agency:
Department of Labour
Activity:
Better Work Working Better (BWWB)
Description:
BWWB sets out the Government’s aspirations for high quality employment in productive and innovative industries, regions and businesses that drives sustainable economic growth and opportunities for all New Zealanders. Goals under BWWB are high levels of participation in high-quality, well-paid and diversified employment; a diverse, adaptable and highly-skilled workforce; high-quality and productive workplaces within an effective regulatory environment and high-performing sector and regional labour markets.
Lead Agency:
Department of Labour
Activity:
Incorporation of labour components in trade agreements
Description:
The Government’s framework on the integration of labour issues with trade agreements continues to be used in all trade negotiations to which New Zealand is a party, including with ASEAN, China, Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. New Zealand has concluded agreements with the Kingdom of Thailand and with Singapore, Brunei and Chile, and a range of labour-cooperation activities are now underway.
Lead Agency:
Department of Labour
Activity:
Growth and Innovation Advisory Board
Description:
The Growth and Innovation Advisory Board advises the Prime Minister, Government and others on the growth and innovation framework and strategies.
Lead Agency:
Ministry of Economic Development
Activity:
Tauawhitia te Wero -Embracing the Challenge: National mental health and addiction workforce development plan 2006-2009
Description:
This sets out a vision for a mental health and addiction workforce development plan responsive to the needs of people who access services. It is intended to act as an umbrella plan providing national direction on workforce development through to 2009.
Lead Agency:
Ministry of Health
Activity:
Let’s get real: Real skills for people working in mental health and addictions [external link]
Description:
Let’s get real is a project to produce a framework of the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes required to work in mental health and addictions services. Quality improvements underpin this initiative with influences on service delivery; education and training; professional development; and recruitment and retention practices.
Lead Agency:
Ministry of Health
Activity:
Pacific Economic Action Plan (PEAP)
Description:
The PEAP provides an overarching response to Pacific peoples’ economic priorities with six key goals: Education, Workforce Development, Business Development, Creative, Emerging & Growth Industries, Entrepreneurial Culture and Leadership. This plan identifies milestones to assist government - develop policies and initiatives to enhance Pacific peoples’ contribution to the New Zealand economy. Each goal outlines objectives that will address gaps in current government responses and areas of need.
Lead Agency:
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
Activity:
Enterprising Communities grants [external link]
Description:
Enterprising Communities assistance is focused on achieving labour market outcomes for communities and groups who are disadvantaged in the labour market. The aim is to help not for profit organisations develop initiatives leading to sustainable employment opportunities and financial independence.
Lead Agency:
Ministry of Social Development
Activity:
Increase union density and the extent of collective bargaining in the aged care and disability sectors in order to improve wages
Description:
The NZCTU works with the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) to improve wages and employment conditions in the aged care sector through collective agreements. The unions are jointly co-ordinating the Fair Share for Aged Care campaign. The NZCTU also works with the Public Service Association (PSA) and the SFWU in their campaign to improve wages and conditions for disability sector care workers through a focus on increasing coverage of collective agreements.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Activity:
Unions working to improve workers’ wages and conditions
Description:
Unions engage in collective bargaining for existing members and also work to re-unionise the workforce to increase the number of workers covered by collective agreements. The NZCTU supports affiliates’ wages campaigns.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Activity:
Campaigning for improvements to work/life balance
Description:
Unions and the NZCTU campaign for improvements to hours of work, breaks, leave and other conditions through collective bargaining and discussions with the Department of Labour on improvements to the minimum code.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Activity:
Representation and input on migrant worker issues
Description:
The NZCTU, union affiliates and the CTU Komiti Pasefika network also discuss ways to strengthen worker rights in Pacific nations and participate in forums on Pacific Labour Market activities. The NZCTU has also launched a specific migrant worker project to develop resources for, and promote the rights of, migrant workers.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Activity:
Representation on the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board
Description:
The NZCTU is represented on the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board that advises the Prime Minister, Government and others on growth and innovation strategies.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Activity:
Industry development projects
Description:
The NZCTU runs projects in the forestry and food and beverage sectors and with Maori workers to increase worker participation in industry decision-making and develop improved industry standards.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Activity:
Supporting decent work for disabled people
Description:
The CTU is working with the Department of Labour to ensure the successful removal of minimum wage exemptions for disabled people working in business enterprises and is coordinating with disabled persons groups on the implementation of this new regime.
Lead Agency:
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions