More jobs on line at MBIE, Oranga Tamariki staff to hear about job cuts today

Monday, 15 April 2024

MBIE had already disestablished almost 300 roles this year.

More jobs — including graduate roles — are likely to be cut at the mega-ministry MBIE, while some Oranga Tamariki staff are beginning to be told if their jobs could be cut.

The Post understands at least 20 graduates at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment were told their jobs were ending early as of July. Some started only in February. The roles are fixed term contracts and they aren’t entitled to redundancy payments.

Meanwhile, The Post also understands staff at Oranga Tamariki are starting to be told of proposed redundancies today.

Other business units at MBIE are being told of proposed redundancies, with dozens of jobs involved, The Post has been told by sources.

As well, The Post can reveal MBIE’s first round of redundancies cost millions.

Ahead of the second round of voluntary redundancies, MBIE's Richard Griffiths said 138 people have had redundancy payments since December, costing about $6.3 million.

<em id= — *The Post* also understands staff at Oranga Tamariki are starting to be told of proposed redundancies today.

'These payments include a mix of outcomes related to our initial voluntary redundancy process, as well as stop work notices and formal change processes.'

Almost 50 net roles have been proposed to be disestablished within its buildings branch. In addition, almost 20 voluntary redundancies have been accepted within the unit and almost 60 vacant roles are being closed, The Post understands.

It follows The Post revealing MBIE had already disestablished almost 300 roles this year, while within its digital, data and insights group, about 35 net roles could go, and 30 roles in its information and education group - a quarter of the team, which sits within the engagement and experience unit.

In the first three months this year, 286 roles at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment were removed through “a variety of actions” that included voluntary redundancy, stop work notices and removing vacant positions.

MBIE deputy secretary of corporate services and finance Richard Griffiths has alredy confirmed that restructuring may result in a reduction of staff, and said the number was not confirmed “until after final decisions have been made and this change process is still subject to feedback from our people”.

MBIE’s first round of voluntary redundancies resulted in 111 people leaving and another 87 roles were disestablished as a result of certain projects being stopped.

In 2023, there were 6282 full time equivalent roles at MBIE. Almost 2000 of those were inspectors and regulatory officers, and 1200 were described as information professionals.