SKILLS MAINTENANCE REVIEW DEFINES FOUR ... - PlaceMakers

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Industry collaboration enters next phaseStrategy for the building and construction industry outlines key challenges and research requiredto meet themAfter more than a year ofindustry collaboration andsurveying, MBIE hosted theMinister for Building and ConstructionMaurice Williamson and guests fromthe Construction Industry Council,Construction Strategy Group andBRANZ and for the launch of theResearch Strategy for the Buildingand Construction Sector.The strategy outlines the key challengesthe industry faces over the next five toten years and provides the basis forthe research that is needed to meetthese challenges.“We’ve worked closely with our keystakeholders for a long period of timeto develop a research programme anddirection aimed at helping the sectorprosper and increase its contributionto the economy,“ said MBIE’s BuildingSystem Performance general managerAdrian Regnault.this paves the way for continuedcollaboration.Acting chair of BRANZ Dr HelenAnderson said: “It is one thing todevelop a strategy and to set outcommon goals. It’s another thing tomake it more than a collection ofwell-intentioned ideas.“I’m pleased to confirm that BRANZ hasadopted this strategy as the basis forits investment of Building Research Levy.Over the next three months, BRANZwill be finalising its next research andknowledge transfer programme.”Mr Williamson also took theopportunity to announce the 2014‘Building a Better New Zealand’conference will be held in Aucklandnext September. Bringing theconstruction industry and researcherstogether, its focus is the future ofNew Zealand’s built environment andhow to transform the building sector todeliver on the country’s future needs.This is the first time these organisationshave come together to plan for thefuture of the industry and it is hopedThe Research Strategy team (from left): MBIE Building System Performance Branch general manager Adrian Regnault,BRANZ Acting Chair Dr Helen Anderson, Minister for Building and Construction Maurice Williamson, Construction IndustryCouncil representative Alex Cutler and Construction Strategy Group representative Richard HarrisNew BRANZ CEO appointedBRANZ welcomes Chelydra Percy as its new chief executive officerNew Zealand’s leading providerof research, testing, informationand educational services forthe building and construction industryhas announced Chelydra Percy as itsnew chief executive officer.Chelydra comes to BRANZ fromCallaghan Innovation – a standaloneCrown Entity that connects businesseswith research organisations – whereshe was the General Manager forFuture Products and Innovation.“BRANZ is fortunate to have securedsomeone as experienced as Chelydraand we are looking forward to herstarting with us on 18 November,”said BRANZ chair Dr Helen Anderson.“With a strong background in sciencemanagement and strategic skills,developed during her time at Scionand as chief executive for the ElectricitySupply ITO and Kiwi Star Optics,Chelydra brings an excellent packageof leadership skills to the role of CEO.”Chelydra hopes to continue to expandBRANZ’s offering.“BRANZ is a strong and well recognisedorganisation within New Zealand’sbuilding industry,” she said. “I’m reallylooking forward to working with theteam to increase the level of qualityknowledge and information we deliverfor industry benefit.”13
NEWSINDUSTRY focusNew home trend flatteningGovernment moves to protect migrant workersUNEMIG says the biggest barrier to migrant workers exposing abuse still not addressedReports of alleged migrantexploitation in Christchurch –where a number of buildingcompanies are employing migrantworkers to help with the rebuild –has prompted the Government tochange migrant worker rights.The Immigration Amendment Bill,released in early October, extendscoverage in sections of theImmigration Act that deals withoffences against exploiting workers– such as underpayment, preventingworkers from seeking informationabout their rights, preventing workersfrom leaving their job, seizingpassports and preventing workershaving outside contact – and theresulting penalties.Previously, those sections only coveredunlawful workers; going forward, theywill cover lawful temporary workers aswell. The bill also adds to the reasonslisted for deportation in Section 161,to include deportation for exploitationof workers as described above, if theoffence is committed within ten years14After two years of growth, the trend for new home consents is levellingIn August 2013, there were 1,760new residential consents issued,including 127 apartments. Theseasonally adjusted number ofnew homes, including apartments,increased 1.4%; excluding apartments,it increased 0.8%.The number of new homes consented,including apartments, is up in nineregions compared with August 2012.The greatest changes were seen inAuckland (up 125 to 503); Canterbury(up 75 to 469); Waikato (up 53 to204); and Southland, (up 54 to 12).Consented non-residential buildingwork in August 2013 was valued at$338m. The key contributors, by value,were shops, restaurants and tavernsat $70m (21% of all non-residentialbuildings); offices and administrationbuildings at $67m (20%); social,cultural and religious buildings at$57m (17%); factories and industrialbuildings at $42m (13%); andeducation buildings at $39m (12%).The $1.2bn worth of quake-relatedbuilding consents issued sinceSeptember 2010 included 1,059 newhomes, including apartments. The valueof the employer themselves gaininga residence visa.This comes off the back of a recentLabour investigation, which foundone firm wasn’t giving its workers fullwages, annual leave or public holidayentitlements.While the Union Network of Immigrants(UNEMIG) says these changes andLabour’s investigations are a step inthe right direction, spokesperson DennisMaga is concerned it’s not enough.The changes do not addressone of the biggest barriersfor workers who speak outagainst abuseHe says the changes do not addressone of the biggest barriers for workers,who speak out against abuse: “Ifmigrant workers come forward tospeak out about abuse and leave theirexploitative situation, they will losetheir work visa that is tied to that job.of quake-related building consentsin August 2013 stood at $59m,including 58 new homes with a valueof $38m and non-residential buildsvalued at $21m.In August 2013, the value of allbuilding consents was $1bn. The yearto August 2013 saw the value of allbuilding consents increased by 21%over the previous year, up $1.9bn to$11.4bn. Residential building valuerose $1.6bn (27%) to $7.3bn and nonresidentialbuildings increased $407m(11%) to $4.2bn.“It’s not good enough to then simplygo on to a visitor’s visa, with no abilityto earn an income. All this does isrisk workers going underground intounlawful work in order to survive.”Maga suggested that, in theseinstances, migrant workers shouldhave the protection of an open visathat allows them to find alternativework while their case is heard.“Immigration New Zealand needs tobe able to exercise greater compassionto migrant workers, who are willingto expose the bad practices of theiremployers but who fear for their abilityto remain in New Zealand.”Next month, Under Construction willfeature an article on the employmentrights issues the construction sector inChristchurch is facing as part of therebuild. International evidence showsthat rebuild operations too oftenresult in underpaid and overworkedemployees and the article will explorethe work being done by MBIE toprevent this.
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