Objection to workers

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 6

Objection to workers

The Inland Revenue Department in Christchurch ,is engaging 24 temporary workers this year to help the permanent staff cope with what the department says is an increased work load brought about by changes in the tax structure.

The move is opposed by the Public Service Association because it feels that permanent workers are being deprived of job opportunities and because there is a greater risk of a breach of confidentiality when temporary workers are employed. “We are not saying temporary workers are irresponsible, but we feel the secur--ity is not good enough and the public might be upset if they knew their personal details were open to scrutiny by temporary workers,” said Mr J. E. Cornhill, secretary of the Canterbury section of the. P.S.A.

Mr Cornhill said that the department and the State Services Commission argued that the need for temporary workers was brought about mainly by the changes in tax on secondary employment, bringing a ' heavier work load.

“They say there will be uniquely high tax arrears arising from previous years. But our delegates at the department say that every year there are some tax changes and the permanent workers should be in sufficient numbers to cope with any changes,” he said. Mr Comhill said that at least 10 of the permanent staff would have to be taken off their normal duties to train the temporary workers, and some would have to continue training replacements because of the inevitable turnover of temporary workers.

The department’s district commissioner (Mr G. Wardlaw) said that both temporary and permanent. workers had to sign a declaration of secrecy and the penalty for a breach of secrecy was a ttne of $2OOO, six months imprisonment, or both.

He said that the department had not yet taken on the temporary workers, but had applied to the Labour Department for up to 24. Last year it had engaged more than 50 and the P.S.A. had not objected; and the year be* fore 40 and the P.S.A. had not objected.. The temporary workers would.be, employed for no more than six months.

“We are trying to give 24 people employment for six months. , Would the ’P.S.A. rather see them on the dole? I cannot see what it is objecting to,” said Mr Wardlaw.