New law pleases big exporter

The meat processing industry has welcomed a Government move that will help meat companies decide whether they want to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory at their plants.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood on Tuesday announced a range of measures to help protect workplaces and workers from Covid-19, including a new law that will simplify the risk assessment process for employers to follow when deciding whether they can require vaccination.

The meat processing industry is the country’s second-largest goods exporter, generating $9.2 billion in export revenue. It is the largest manufacturer, employing 25,000 workers, many of whom are Māori and Pasifika, deemed at higher risk for Covid-19. Industry leaders had previously sought priority vaccinations, given the sector is an essential service at high risk of spreading the virus.

‘‘As New Zealand’s largest manufacturing sector, we support the Government’s plans for a clear and simplified risk assessment process to help meat processing and exporting companies decide whether or not they wish to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory at their plants,’’ Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said. ‘‘Currently, companies can make Covid-19 vaccination a health and safety requirement at plants, but this is a difficult and complex process and requires companies to undertake an assessment of the different risks of vaccinated people versus unvaccinated people.

‘‘It is critical that all workers are vaccinated to provide a shield against Covid-19, especially for meat processing where workers are working close together for long shifts.’’

The Government recognised that having a fully vaccinated workforce supported continued access to global markets and the sector looked forward to the details on how this would be applied, she said.

Although employee vaccination information was private, meat processing companies had indicated that staff vaccination rates were broadly in line with uptake rates in their regions, although this varied from plant to plant and region to region, she said.

Karapeeva said meat companies were working hard to ensure staff were vaccinated against Covid-19, including offering on-site vaccinations and other incentives.