Labour will hold negligent employers accountable for workplace deaths by introducing an offence for corporate homicide.
“This has been a long time coming. At a time when Kiwis are working hard to make ends meet, they absolutely deserve to come home to their loved ones safe,” Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Jan Tinetti said.
“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of workplace deaths in the developed world, yet companies and industry can’t be held accountable for corporate homicide.
“Kiwis are working harder than ever to pay the bills and put food on the table. Risks to their lives at work should be the last thing they worry about.
“The vast majority of businesses do what’s best for the health and safety of their workers, but this law will introduce consequences for those that don’t.
“This is about ensuring no one loses a loved one at work. It’s about holding negligent employers accountable for workplace deaths. And, it’s about giving certainty to workers that they’re safe at their jobs.
“New Zealanders will remember the tragedy of the Pike River Mine disaster, the 29 men who lost their lives, and the failures cited by the Royal Commission around inadequate health and safety systems.
“We know affected whānau have been waiting a long time for this and we thank them for their tireless advocacy. It’s time we get this right for all those who have lost their lives at work when they should have been safe,” Jan Tinetti said.
