Learnings from tractor incident
A near miss experienced by a North Island farmer worker when their tractor ‘park’ gear failed, has been shared as the latest Safety Alert from Safer Farms.
The Labour Inspectorate is calling for dairy farmers to use best practice when employing in 2018.
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.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.