Health & Safety Reform Bill delay:

The proposed law changes to workplace health and safety have been delayed for at least two months because of concerns within the National Party caucus about its effect on small businesses and farmers.

The main areas being reconsidered are believed to be:

• Exemptions for businesses with 20 staff or less from the requirement to have health and safety representative on a worker’s request.
• Whether types of businesses can be deemed exempt from the law at any time by regulation, as the bill allows.

Parental Leave and Employment Protection – Rate of Parental Leave Payment

These adjustments to the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 (the Act) come into force on 1 July 2015

The rate of parental leave payment payable to an employee is the lesser of —

• $504.10 per week (as from 1 July 2014); and
• the greater of — 100% of the employee’s ordinary weekly pay before the commencement of the parental leave; and 100% of the employee’s average weekly earnings.

The rate of parental leave payment payable to a self-employed person is the lesser of —

• $504.10 per week (as from 1 July 2014); and
• the greater of — 100% of the self-employed person’s average weekly earnings; and the minimum amount set under section 71OA of the Act.

The amount of $504.10 per week must be adjusted by 1 July 2015 by any percentage movement upwards in average ordinary time weekly earnings. These regulations adjust the amount to $516.85.

Vulnerable Children – Requirements for Safety Checks of Children’s Workers

These regulations, which come into force on 1 July 2015, are made under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 and set out the requirements for safety checks of children’s workers.

The requirements for the first safety check of a children’s worker are:

• a full identity check (which requires confirmation of identity either by using an electronic credential or by producing a primary and secondary identity document); and
• a Police vet; and
• the gathering of other information (less information is required to be gathered if the children’s worker is an existing employee or contractor); and
• a risk assessment.

The requirements for a subsequent safety check of a children’s worker that is carried out within 3 years after a previous safety check are:

• an identity check (which, if a person’s name differs from that on a primary or secondary document produced to confirm identity for a first safety check, requires a supporting name change document to be produced); and
• a Police vet; and
• the seeking of information from any relevant professional organisation or licensing or registration authority; and
• a risk assessment.

Source: Westlaw NZ/Brookers online