Copy
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward
September 2021 - Issue 39.

Dear FICA Members, Sponsors & Industry

Last month I started out by saying how just in a month export market prices had dropped dramatically but life has continued to challenge us again – COVID Level 4 lock down for the last few weeks has been something else! With the outbreaks in the Auckland region, we recognise our workforce and contractors that this will continue to impact and hope that a change in alert levels next week will see the forest sector back to work. There are many sectors hurting this time round and the financial implications seem extreme, listening to the flower sector, the hospitality sector, and gyms and even when we go back into Level 2 tomorrow, these industries are impacted by the new DELTA Level 2 criteria.

Someone asked the other day why we were not as an industry able to work at Level 4 and why was there not more being done by national organisations with government. It made me realise that unless the industry churns over communications to our own people, genuine concern that forestry is not working behind the scenes is real. Let me dispel that myth, and tell you that during lock down, there has been a lot of time spent on ZOOMs and calls and working with MPI and other forestry groups NZFOA & NZIF & NZFFA to work away proactively to gain exemptions and dispensations.

The greatest barrier is that COVID alerts are set against the Health Order and people come first, economic impact is deemed secondary. However, times are a changing and when the vaccination levels are high enough to satisfy the “herd approach” then there has to be greater emphasis on economic viability and sustainability of NZ. It is not just forestry, but many primary sectors are starting to see their supply chains break and this will have longer term effects than COVID lock downs!

FICA look forward to meeting with Minister Nash tomorrow, unfortunately a ZOOM does not compare to face to face but we have a list of key topics to discuss that represent challenges for our sector so will keep you posted.

Thanks to all the silviculture contractors that worked their way through the 2500+ registrations made through the $10,000 12-week Challenge Campaign. Results from the survey showed:

  • due to workforce shortfalls 30% of you were not going to meet your contracts for 2021
  • 60% have been able to use the MSD-FICA Subsidy again
  • Just 15% of you were able to engage anyone from the campaign
  • Three main reasons why not: people were not available when contacted, not drug free or contractors did not need people

Next week we will be launching an MSD-FICA Harvesting Subsidy that offers $7,400 per person new into that sector group so watch this space.

Despite the activities over the last few weeks, we are feeling positive about the return to Level 1 by October and the possibility of staging indoor events over 100 so we encourage your registration to our conferences, both the Safetree Conference and the FICA AGM - Conference. We close registrations end of September so sign up for this at your soonest.

And hey lets celebrate its spring and summer is just around the corner, warmer days and daylight saving this month 26 September.
 

Kia tūpato - Take care

Prue & FICA Board
 
Prue Younger

CEO, FICA 

INVITATION TO JOIN OUR WHANAU VACCINATION
 
After consultation with our Kaimahi (workers), this Friday 10th September Tane Mahuta is hosting a vaccination and testing tent. 
 
Te Puna Ora o Mataatua have agreed to set up the tent, who will also offer counselling and information for all who would like to join our rangatahi.
 
We expect 100% vaccinations for us after positive encouragement to our team.
 
Venue: Tāne Mahuta Depot
Site: 84 Thornton Road (Extreme Industrial Park)
Date: Friday 10th September 2021
Time: 1.00 pm to 3.00pm 

 
If there is anyone else in the area.
 
Nau mai. haere mai.
 
Ngā mihi,

Wini Geddes
Kaitohu - Director
T : 021 068 8195
E: wini@tanemahuta.org.nz
W: www.tanemahuta.org.nz
 
Employment New Zealand newsletter
In case you or colleagues at FICA haven’t seen our newsletter yet, here is a link to read the latest Employment New Zealand newsletter, which covers other topics including:

·As an employer, can I pay staff less than their normal wages during COVID-19?

·I have a question about applying for the Wage Subsidy, where can I go to get information?

·Can I make my employees take annual leave or sick leave to help complement their wages?

·Can I ask my workers to pay for their own masks during COVID-19?

·Can I require that my workers get vaccinated for COVID-19?

If this is of interest, please subscribe to the Employment New Zealand newsletter
Thanks for reading and sharing this update. If you have any queries, suggestions or feedback, please email the Employment Information and Education team via employmentiande@mbie.govt.nz
 
Kind regards
The Information and Education -  Employment stakeholder engagement team:
Diana Dobbinson, Grayson Zhang, Thomas Liang and Vinod Dahya
Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment - Hīkina Whakatutuki
NZBN 9429000106078
Dear FICA Members
We acknowledge that it is a difficult time for businesses, and we remain committed to supporting you and your members where we can. I’ve got a couple of important updates that I thought would be relevant for you and for your members.
 
Self-employed invoicing
ACC commenced its annual invoicing for the 2021/22 levy year in July this year for employers and shareholder-employers, with most of these having been invoiced already.
These levies provide cover for injuries that occur in the workplace. We’ve also been communicating with Self-Employed businesses to prepare them for invoices being sent in September.
 
Any delay to invoicing will result in due dates or collection dates falling over the Christmas period – which we are keen to avoid. As noted, most other businesses (and wage earners) have already been invoiced and any decisions to delay invoicing, as was done for all businesses in 2020, will result in due dates or collection dates falling over the Christmas period.
 
ACC is willing to offer what support it can to individuals and businesses where COVID-19 is having any significant impacts on cashflow and ability to pay ACC levies. If an individual or business needs to discuss their situation, you can find options for support on ACC’s website. Please note that if an individual’s earnings were impacted by COVID last year, this will flow through to the earnings filed with IR and used by ACC for self-employed invoicing.
 
Levy consultation
ACC will be consulting on proposed changes to levy rates and other levy matters during September.
The consultation process allows organisations yourself the opportunity to consider the levy proposals and submit feedback which ACC will consider before providing advice to the Minister.
We review levy rates based on factors including the number of claims we receive, the cost of supporting injuries and investment returns.
Like the last time we consulted on levies in 2018, all the proposals and submissions forms for feedback will be available on shapeyouracc.co.nz and this will be updated when levy consultation goes live on 1 September.
 
As always it’s very useful to get any feedback and or insights, whether that is in relation to the current COVID-19 situation or more generally with them and the forestry sector.
 
Regards
Sue McMaster | Strategic Business Customer Partner | ACC

Tel (07) 579-0349 / Mobile (021) 734-937 / Ext: 75349
 
Thanks to those of you that participated in the two short videos promoting vaccination in our industry - lets work together to make our sector as safe as possible and practical. Takes 2 mins to book yourself in for the jab on line!
CLICK HERE AND
 BOOK TODAY

SAFETREE & FICA CONFERENCE
PROMOTION

 
The conference for Safetree and FICA combine again and transport you south to beautiful Queenstown! But with the trans-tasman bubble open, you need to be quick and get your accommodation booked! Guest speakers include Nigel Latta, the TV celebrity and Lance Burdett & his team from WARN International and new VIP speaker Callum McKirdy Registrations CLOSE END OF THE SEPTEMBER!!!.
 
BOOKING ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE
AT MILLENNIUM AND COPTHORNE - Queenstown

Accommodation booking Code for your conference, it is FICA21
FICA National Recruitment Campaign with NZME as partners. Covering all the industry sectors, we will through 12 months with new and stimulating artwork and information to support a career in FORESTRY! Check out the national careers site forestrycareers.nz
Digital statistics are showing us each month that we are exceeding all expectations!

Thank you to our Partners for their support and sponsorship

Our mailing address is:
P O Box 12017, Ahuriri, Napier 4144

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

 
Facebook
Website
Email