Objective 3: Partner with industry to improve work opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions
The Government will partner with businesses and innovators to grow employment opportunities (including part-time, full-time and intermittent work) for people with diverse support, access, or health needs. This is critical to kia takatū tātou − supporting the long-term social and economic development of New Zealand because:
- businesses need know-how and networks so they can benefit from recruiting, retaining and working with disabled people and people with health conditions - particularly as the population ages
- it is important to support good employers with the information and tools that will allow a fully inclusive labour market to thrive, and to stop people from falling out of work when they acquire support, access or health needs
- the economy needs new businesses (including self-employment) that respond to new post-COVID economic drivers, take advantage of new technologies and future work trends and that offer new opportunities for disabled workers
- local employment initiatives are known to be effective where they build on high-trust relationships and strengths amongst local businesses, education and support providers and other community organisations such as iwi trusts, councils or churches to respond to local needs. These partnerships or ‘place-based’ initiatives are an emergent and unique sector that needs nurturing and development.
Priority 5: Inclusive and wellbeing enhancing workplaces
Kaupapa: Growing numbers of employers want to foster disability-inclusive and mentally healthy workplace cultures to capitalise on employment practices that benefit everyone. This includes health promoting practices as well as accommodating the individual needs of people with diverse support, access or health needs.
There is also a role for health services alongside employment services and employers to help ensure that employers and workers are better equipped to adapt appropriately when an employee becomes ill or acquires disability support or access needs.
Building on existing services the government is progressing the following actions:
|
Initial actions 2020 – 2022 |
Links |
Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
|
Promote accessibility, including in workplaces as well as to and from workplaces |
Accessibility + Disability Strategy + Better Later Life Strategy |
Ministry of Social Development |
|
The Public Service leads by example with inclusive and wellbeing enhancing workplaces (This will include the following:
|
The Public Service Legislation Bill creates an obligation for Chief Executives to promote diversity and inclusiveness + The State Services Leadership Team’s work programme to ensure discrimination is eliminated; and the Public Service is fully accessible, with everyone able to participate |
State Services Commission (SSC) |
|
Promote the health benefits of good work to health practitioners |
Royal Australasian College of Physicians Consensus on the Health Benefits of Good Work |
Ministry of Social Development |
|
Clarify guidance on lawful hiring and recruitment practices and promote lawful and best practice |
Human Rights Act |
Human Rights Commission |
This plan is a living document and new actions will be developed that address this priority alongside Government’s broader work programme, guided by the kaupapa and informed by monitoring.
Priority 6: Innovative labour market support and business development
Kaupapa: Self-employment, micro enterprises, co-operative or social enterprises and customised employment are all business models that can make good and safe use of emerging labour market opportunities as well as assistive and digital technologies, such as:
- remote work options for people who cannot travel easily
- gig economy platforms for people who need to, or want to, work flexibly or intermittently
- job platforms that provide easier and more accessible ways for disabled people to match, showcase or develop talent
- specific tasks in a business where an individual worker with unique strengths can be most productive, and which capitalise on niche markets, often operating on a global rather than national scale (e.g. software bug checking).
Care needs to be taken to harness these new options and business models while also protecting workers.
There are also opportunities to co-design innovative approaches to labour market support and business development with Māori and iwi, disability groups, employers and support providers.
Building on existing services the government is progressing the following actions:
| Initial actions 2020 – 2022 | Links | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
|
Policy work on employment products and services, will include consideration of support options that promote:
|
Welfare Overhaul + Future of work |
Ministry of Social Development |
| Explore the use of digital platforms to support disabled people and people with health conditions to get employment and to support them while they are in employment |
Welfare Overhaul + Future of work |
Ministry of Social Development |
| Policy work on the first principles of the active labour market policy system will include consideration of the needs of disabled people and people with health conditions |
Welfare Overhaul + Future of work |
Ministry of Social Development + Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment + Ministry of Education |
| Explore social procurement options as a mechanism for government to support disadvantaged jobseekers in partnership with employers | Procurement for broader outcomes |
Ministry of Social Development + Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |
This plan is a living document and new actions will be developed that address this priority alongside Government’s broader work programme, guided by the kaupapa and informed by monitoring.
