Polytech reform concerns Meat processing
A shake-up of vocational education could be a backwards step for training in the meat industry, the sector’s leaders say.
Last week, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced seven key changes in store for on-thejob training and apprenticeships, which included the creation of a ‘‘mega-polytech’’.
Up to seven industry-governed workforce development councils would also be created to ‘‘replace and expand’’ industry training organisations.
While the announcement was welcomed by some, the Meat Industry Association (MIA) is concerned the changes could spell the end of the on-the-job training systems that it said were working well at present.
MIA chief executive Tim Ritchie said that while more needed to be done to improve access to training opportunities, the current system – where training was delivered by employers with oversight by the primary industry training organisation – was running smoothly.
‘‘Delivery of on-the-job training is by the employer, and not external providers. We seek assurance from the Government that won’t change.’’
The association’s members employ about 25,000 people and the meat industry is one of the biggest trainers of New Zealand workers.
In 2018, the sector had about 5300 people involved in NZQA-accredited training that was led, delivered and assessed by employers. More than 80 per cent completed their training.
Ritchie said previous reorganisations of the industry training organisations had been extremely disruptive but were now working effectively and almost all meat workers were trained by the processing company they worked for.
‘‘Having a skilled workforce is extremely important to the sector. We are investing in training systems and programmes to upskill workers and promote the sector as an attractive career option,’’ he said.
‘‘Our employer-delivered training is working and our scholarship programme, apprenticeship schemes and schools programmes are helping to attract talent to the sector.’’
‘‘Delivery of on-thejob training is by the employer, and not external providers. We seek assurance from the Government that won’t change.’’
Tim Ritchie Meat Industry Association chief executive
The meat industry’s members operate 60 processing plants, mainly in regional New Zealand and in many towns the meat processor is the largest single employer.