New Zealand's public agencies proposing job cuts as part of public service cost-cutting
New Zealand's Ministry for Children is cutting 447 jobs as part of the government's cost-cutting measure for the public service.
The ministry said 632 roles are being disestablished, but 185 are also being created, 1News reported.
The report, citing Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani, said 70 of the 632 disestablished roles are currently vacant.
Departments affected include the policy and evidence centre, while no frontline roles were impacted, according to the report.
The cuts at Oranga Tamariki are the second highest across New Zealand after the Ministry of Education, which had proposed 565 cuts in its workforce.
Fleur Fitzsimons, assistant secretary for the Public Service Association (PSA) Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, slammed the cuts at both ministries.
"Both agencies are large and complex with many moving parts. Every worker plays an important role in delivering a better future for children and young people, yet both stand to lose hundreds of dedicated public servants, around one in ten workers," Fitzsimons said in a statement.
According to the PSA official, the "stakes are too high" to cut jobs at Oranga Tamariki, as lives and wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi are at risk.
"The government is asking New Zealand to take a massive leap of faith without showing any of the thinking behind it beyond cutting costs," she said.
Agencies across New Zealand have been proposing job cuts in response to Finance Minister Nicola Willis' strategy to reduce annual public service spending by $1.5 billion, Radio New Zealand reported.
WorkSafe also reportedly convened its staff earlier this month to discuss planning for these cuts. It already laid off 113 employees last year.
Fitzsimons told laid off public servants that it's not their fault their jobs were lost.
"Our message to them is this is not about you, it's not a reflection on the work you do or the contribution you have made to our nation but about the government's heartless and chaotic approach to cutting public services," the PSA official said.
