Time goes by and we all get busy doing other things, but at the Federation we operate a “call up system” where we get reminded of events.
Two events we have been reminded about are the review of the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006, and the review of Occupational Regulation within the Building and Construction sector.

We question what incentive the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has to put any sort of priority on these issues because they have nothing to lose. They don't fund the implementation, application and enforcement of the Act or how it is regulated.

We believe it is a given that there will be no recommendations that will cost the Government money, or that will question other aspects of their policies such as employment, industry training organisations, qualifications and such like.

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/fellow-practitioners-update/41/fellow-practitioner-issue-299-dated-29-april-2016/1978/

hi guys, todays F/P issue. a top class summery of the industry today a lot of research and common sense applied by the author, hats off anyone can understand it....great, cheers
...As detailed in the main column, reviews are underway on two issues that regulate the industry - the legislation and the manner in which it is enforced.
The issue we see is that it always seems about “enforcement imposed on practitioners, ” rather than encouragement.
We don't see the regulation of the industry as an incentive. It was said at one of the Select Committee hearings a couple of years ago that being in a regulated industry was a benefit to the practitioners.
We questioned the statement at the time and stated we were paying dearly to be in a regulated industry and the costs we were paying bordered on being a penalty.
The regulation of the plumbing gasfitting and drainlaying industry has been a battle field for decades and it has always been about funding and heavy handed regulation imposed on practitioners.
It has been going on for so long that even those riding on the coat tails of the industry have become involved in what is imposed on practitioners.
Sub industries have been created from regulation which has caused animosity within the industry along with industrial exclusion where the practitioners haven't been listened to.
The Federation believes the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment should be recommending a change in tactics and try incentivising the regulation within the industry.
The Government, MBIE and the PGD Board to a certain degree, need to ask the questions regarding the survival of the industry as it can't be a given that the industry will survive and maintain the standard required by the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006 and supporting legislation.
In the Auditor General's report into the Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlaying industry six years ago it stated:
"There is a great deal of writing on the importance of voluntary compliance in regulatory systems. In any regulatory context, it is too hard to achieve high levels of compliance through force or coercion – effective systems depend on people choosing to participate and follow the rules. For people to want to comply, they have to trust the system and see it as providing an overall benefit.
The evidence this inquiry gathered showed that many tradespeople do not have this view of the Board at present.
If more people drop out of the regulatory system or choose to ignore it, the system will not be effective in protecting public safety"
The regulation of the industry seems to show benefit to everyone except the practitioners. The public get their health and safety protected at no cost, the Government gets a regulated industry at no cost and offenders get prosecuted at no cost to the public or the Government.
....
The only system that hasn't been tried is a system where there is benefit to the industry

How about a system where there is incentives for compliance not just punishment?

A system where there are incentives for training apprentices?

A system that rewards advancement in training and qualifications?

A system where practitioners are encouraged to protect the health and safety of the public by reporting unauthorised people operating in the industry?

A system where practitioners are listened to?

A system where the prosecution of unauthorised people is paid for through taxes or levies rather than being funded by practitioners who choose to be plumbers gasfitters or drainlayers - after all police officers don't pay to be in the police force or pay to prosecute offenders.

When you look at all the money spent on reviews every decade or less into why things aren't changing in the industry, it would probably fund the industry for a number of years.
The continual circle of reviews into the review, into the review, is not logical but comical.
Desk top reviews by people who only believe they understand the issues because their degree says they understand won't change anything.
Our high level desktop research has identified issues such as funding for apprentices, training, qualifications and regulation that assist the industry - incentives to make things better. (And it didn’t cost the practitioner a thing….)