| | | | | | Advocacy for business by the BusinessNZ Network | | | |
The close contact exemption scheme allowing Covid close contacts to take RAT tests and remain at work is confusing, with unclear definitions of different kinds of contacts, BusinessNZ says. The scheme’s reliance on stocks of RAT tests administered by the Govt makes the scheme unnecessarily centralised, and because the scheme covers only ‘critical services,’ it means excluded sectors and industries may face severe staffing shortages. BusinessNZ says all industries should be deemed critical and recommends a less bureaucratic approach to Government.
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Businesses also want more workable timeframes for isolation, saying the requirement for close contacts to isolate for 10 days is devastating businesses in Queenstown and elsewhere, and the 7-day isolation requirement under phase 2 of the red traffic light system isn’t a great improvement. They say close contacts that test negative with RAT tests should not have to isolate at all, but allowed to go about their business while taking precautions with mask wearing, social distancing etc. | | | | | |
BusinessNZ supports the Reconnecting NZ plan but wants it to be accelerated - under the plan, normal visa processing will resume by October, too late for seasonal industries and untimely for many other industries. A firm date is needed for the end of isolation requirements at the border, so the tourism sector can plan for reopening, BusinessNZ’s Kirk Hope said. Meanwhile, ExportNZ wants clarity on when travellers can expect to arrive without needing to isolate, as that is when passenger volumes will increase, and air cargo become more affordable again. | | | | | |
Productivity is the big issue for business and the economy, National's leader Christopher Luxon told a BusinessNZ meeting in Wellington this week. Productivity could be improved with better-targeted investment in education, a more strategic approach to productivity-enhancing infrastructure overall rather than a focus on major individual projects, better tax settings and a greater focus on enterprise. A National government would rein in government spending, refocus the Reserve Bank on price stability, and get better results from the move to digitise government. services, he said. | | | | | |
A Word Economic Forum survey completed by BusinessNZ members reveals their views of the main risks facing NZ business. Cybersecurity failure was seen as NZ’s greatest business risk, followed by infectious diseases, extreme weather events, the risk of asset bubbles bursting, and prolonged economic stagnation. The survey was completed by businesses in all countries. NZ businesses' views of business risk were less concerned with geopolitical and social instability risks than many other countries.’ | | | | | | Liability insurance costly |
Liability insurance premiums for directors increased by 30-50% in 2021, a new report shows. The report by the Institute of Directors, Dentons Kensington Swan, and Marsh NZ shows insurers are responding to new areas of business risk, including cyber risks, new regulatory requirements, increased community expectations, and NZ’s evolving class actions regime and third party litigation funding market. Increased premiums are driven by risks relating to company culture and conduct, cyber issues, climate change and Covid management, the report says. | | | | | |
Safeguard magazine is surveying businesses' health & safety practices in 2022. The annual survey tracks trends in perceptions of health & safety over time, and business practices including use of health & safety committees The results of the survey are used by policy-makers, the wider health & safety community and by businesses requiring H&S-related services. Your views as a business owner or executive are valued - please take the two-minute survey h ere. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
