Ministry warned of increasing workloads of remaining staff after 'huge reduction'
Nearly 400 roles are being disestablished at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), according to reports, as part of the government's widespread cost-cutting initiative in the public sector.
The MPI announced that it is cutting 391 positions, which includes existing vacancies and the disestablishment of other roles, but excluding frontline positions, The New Zealand Herald reported.
"I can confirm that we will not be making any reductions to frontline services or statutory roles, such as veterinarians, animal welfare, fishery and food compliance officers, or our biosecurity teams at the border," said MPI director-general Ray Smith in a statement to the Herald.
Smith added that affected staff will receive a letter confirming the fate of their role - but they are also encouraged to apply for new roles being set up through the change process or request for reassignment.
They may also take voluntary redundancy or early retirement, according to the NZ Herald report.
Disestablishment to hit workforce
The Public Service Association (PSA) said the "huge reduction" can weaken the work of the ministry for the country's primary industry.
"While MPI maintains no frontline roles are impacted, the PSA is concerned that such a large reduction in the workforce will impact the ability of frontline biosecurity officers, fisheries officers, vets, and others to do their job," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, in a statement.
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Amid its critical role, Fitzsimons said it was "baffling" that the government asked the ministry forced the agency to slash spending by 7.5%.
"This is a complex ministry with many moving parts. These changes will only increase the workloads of remaining staff, and will see the loss of experienced, specialist staff who have been at the Ministry for many years," she said.
Restructures in organisations have been known to result in further turnover due to employees carrying additional workload after their colleagues have been made redundant. To prevent such consequences, employers across organisations have been advised to be "more transparent and open in the communications."