MBIE takes aim at more jobs, Treasury looks to cut 50

Saturday, 6 April 2024

MBIE has proposed to reduce its Information and Education team by 30 roles - a quarter of the team.

More cuts are on the cards at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) with a proposal to disestablish 30 more jobs, as Treasury confirms it is looking at axing 50 roles.

Affected MBIE staff were told on Thursday, the same day the Ministry of Health proposed a net reduction of 134 roles.

Also on Thursday, the Ministry of Social Development opened up voluntary redundancies to staff and acknowledged following this, it was likely there would be more job cuts, “mainly within our national office in Wellington”.

Following 111 staff members taking up voluntary redundancies, MBIE has proposed to reduce its Information and Education team by 30 roles - a quarter of the team.

Public Service Association national secretary Duane Leo called it “just another cut to community and public services that are hollowing out the ability of government agencies to deliver the support businesses and people need”.

“The team provides information and education that helps people act with the confidence of knowing how to deal with regulatory requirements and access the information they need.”

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On Friday, MBIE chief people officer Jennifer Nathan said formal “change processes opened for consultation yesterday for our Engagement and Experience branch”.

“Within this proposal a number of roles are proposed to be disestablished or form part of a contestable reconfirmation process. None of the roles proposed to be disestablished are front line, customer facing roles. The proposal also establishes a number of new positions.”

MBIE had already been disestablishing vacant positions, had a pause on external recruitment, and had opened up consultation for changing its Digital, Data and Insights (DDI) Group and the Employment Services branch. Six of the eight branches within the DDI team have proposed changes.

Deputy Secretary (DDI) Greg Patchell said within that proposal, “a number of roles are proposed to be disestablished or form part of a contestable reconfirmation process”.

“The proposal also establishes a number of new positions”.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Treasury is looking to drop its headcount by 50 roles, and the Ministry of Education is talking to staff who may be affected by proposals to reduce its workforce.

Treasury, which manages the Government’s finances, has proposed to reduce its headcount “through attrition, the ending of fixed term roles, and closing of vacancies”.

“Final numbers cannot be confirmed until Budget decisions have been taken,” a spokesperson said.

“As part of our 6.5% savings target, we are working toward a reduction of approximately 50 roles through attrition, the ending of fixed term roles, and closing of vacancies.”

That would reduce the full time equivalent roles to 600 from 650.