Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - New Zealand (Ratification: 2001)

The Committee notes the observations of Business New Zealand (BusinessNZ) and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), communicated together with the Government’s report.

Part II. Application of the Articles of the Convention. The Committee welcomes the comprehensive report provided by the Government. It notes the Government’s indication that there have been certain changes in the application of the Convention during the reporting period. The Labour Market Statistics series was changed as of June quarter of 2016, with the inclusion of additional questions in the Household Labour Force Survey. The Government explains that the change was made to improve the relevance and quality of the labour market statistics compiled through the Survey, as the new content collects more information about the nature of people’s employment conditions and work arrangements. The Government also notes that, as of June 2019, the sample size for the Household Economic Survey was expanded from 5,500 households to 28,500 households in compiling information on household income, housing costs and child poverty. This change is intended to reduce margins of error in the data, as well as to provide information at a sub-population level.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics on the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the Government continues to provide statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment to the ILO Department of Statistics (ILOSTAT) for dissemination through its website. In this respect, the latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) figures relate to 2021. Moreover, in response to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates that changes made to the Labour Market Statistics series and Household Labour Force Survey questionnaire implement developments with respect to Resolution I adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) on Statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (2013). With respect to Article 8, the Committee notes that the Government continues to provide data on the structure and distribution of the economically active population to ILOSTAT for dissemination on its website, most recently via the 2021 ILOSTAT questionnaire. The Government notes that the Census of Population and Dwellings was last undertaken in 2018 and data was supplied to ILOSTAT for dissemination. The Government points out that participation in the 2018 Census was lower than in previous censuses. As a result, data was used from alternative sources and different methodologies to produce a fit-for-purpose dataset. It adds that planning is currently underway for the next New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, which will take place in March 2023. In this context, the Committee notes the observations of BusinessNZ, which indicates that information under Article 8 of the Convention is now considerably outdated, given that the most recent census was conducted in 2018. According to BusinessNZ the 2018 census was a ‘digital first’ census, which some 70 per cent of New Zealanders were expected to complete. This expectation was, however, not realized. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide statistical data and methodological information relevant to the application of Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention, and to supply updated information in relation to the 2023 census once it becomes available. The Government is also requested to continue to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013), as well as in relation to the Resolution concerning statistics on work relationships (Resolution I), adopted by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2018).

Article 9. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee notes that statistics on hours actually worked continue be collected in the Household Labour Force Survey and submitted to ILOSTAT through its annual questionnaire. The most recent statistics supplied refer to 2020. Current statistics on average hourly and weekly gross earnings, average weekly hours paid for, and the corresponding number of filled jobs, continue to be compiled quarterly, from the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) conducted by Statistics New Zealand in March, June, September and December. In its reply to the observations of the NZCTU, the Government indicates that the QES has been revised, but that this revision does not include additional measures, nor does it affect the scope of the QES. Revisions to coverage related to sample redesign and increased coverage of industries, rather than to scope of coverage or definitions. The Government also notes that in preparation to make these changes, the Government consulted extensively with key users of the QES, as well as some data providers. It adds that the social partners were invited to be part of the consultation process. The Committee notes that, in its observations, BusinessNZ indicates that changes made to the QES appear to address the concerns raised by the NZCTU. At the same time, the Committee notes the NZCTU’s indication that the sample size of the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) is too small to allow for reliable disaggregation of statistics by ethnicity, or for cross-tabulation of regional data by industry. NZCTU therefore considers that the availability and reliability of statistics on earnings, hours of work, wage structure and distribution would be enhanced by carrying out a more regular survey with a larger sample size. Responding to the observations of the NZCTU indicating that the official statistics available on wage rates in collective agreements in New Zealand show only changes in wages (increases or decreases) from the quarterly Labour Cost Index Survey, the Government indicates that the Labour Cost Index does not measure average earnings or hours of work and thus falls outside the scope of Article 9. The NZCTU also observes that there is currently some uncertainty around arrangements for the collection and analysis of statistics derived from collective Agreements, but that discussions are currently underway on how this will be arranged and funded in the future. The Committee requests that the Government provide updated information on the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the statistics covered by Article 9 of the Convention to ILOSTAT through its annual questionnaire for dissemination. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to include information on the application in practice of Article 9 of the Convention by providing information on the consultations held and cooperation with the social partners when designing and revising such concepts, definitions and methodology.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. The Committee notes that the Government continues to supply statistics on fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries disaggregated by economic activity via the ILOSTAT annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The latest statistics refer to 2019 and are published on the Government website. Responding to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government provides information on the steps that it has taken during the reporting period to improve the quality of the statistics on occupational injuries and diseases. In addition, the Government notes that Stats NZ chairs an Injury Information Working Group, which is working across government units to improve the quality of injury data (including data on workplace injuries). The “Serious injury outcome indicators” series and the “Inquiry statistics – Work-related claims” series are published on the Stats NZ website and cover the years 2000–19.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on developments in relation to the quality and availability of data compiled under Article 14. In this regard, it notes with interest the Government’s indication that the issue noted by the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety concerning unreliability of data involving workplace fatalities has been resolved. The Committee also notes with interest that the recommendation issued by the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety to "improve the quality and availability of data and information on workplace injury and occupational health performance by establishing a sector-leading research, evaluation and monitoring function within the new agency" has been picked up in the Government’s 2013 response to the independent Taskforce Report known as ‘Working Safer: A blueprint for health and safety at work’. Following the 2013 report, the Government set up a research, evaluation and monitoring function with WorkSafe. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that WorkSafe collects and publishes a range of data on selected industries and types of work covering annual and monthly data on fatalities, injuries, accident types, notifications, and WorkSafe activities such as enforcement, investigations and assessment. The data comes from both WorkSafe’s own registers and from the claims register of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). This information is published on the WorkSafe Data Centre web page. The Committee notes that WorkSafe also commissions and publishes a range of research into particular industries and other aspects of the health and safety at work system. These publications are published on the Work Safe Research web page. In addition, WorkSafe and ACC both contribute data to the “‘Safe Work Australia Comparative Monitoring Report” published by Safe Work Australia. In its observations, BusinessNZ indicates that WorkSafe’s 2020 annual report provides information on progress made in addressing workplace health and safety. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on any developments in relation to the collection, compilation and publication of statistics on occupational injuries and diseases, including in relation to any measures taken to implement the recommendations of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety. In addition, the Committee requests that the Government continue to supply up-to-date statistics to ILOSTAT through its annual questionnaire, taking into account the decision of the International Labour Conference at its 110th Session in June 2022 to include “a safe and healthy working environment” as a fundamental principle and right at work under paragraph 2 of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.