Farm Safety Improves Through 'Incremental Gain', Says Birkett
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
The Inspectorate says employers should make sure they have compliant records, agreements, and all employees receiving at least the minimum wage for every hour worked.
A recent investigation by the Inspectorate found 28% of farms visited failing to meet their record keeping obligations, resulting in $11,000 in fines. Whilethis was an improvement on previous visits, the Inspectorate says no be farmer should be failing to meet these basic and long-standing requirements of New Zealand employment law.
“Part of being a good employer is ensuring that everyone on your farm is getting all their minimum employment entitlements,” says Labour Inspectorate regional manager Natalie Gardiner.
“This requires keeping good wage, time, holiday, and leave records, compliant employment agreements, and paying your employees all their entitlements such as for working public holidays.
The stand down list introduced last year as a result of the Labour Inspectorate and Immigration New Zealand working together means employers face consequences beyond the immediate fine.
Employers on the stand down list have committed a clear-cut breach of employment standards, and as a result are prevented from sponsoring new visas to recruit migrant labour for up to two years.
“By keeping good records, you offer protection to both yourself and your employee should anything go wrong or come under dispute – and are on your way to being a best practice employer.
The Labour Inspectorate says it will be visiting more farms in the coming year and any which are found not meeting their employment obligations can expect to face serious consequences.
