Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
The Government is facing the real-life consequences of its public service cuts following the scathing review into Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) payment errors.
“These errors would not have happened if the Government had not cut hundreds of workers from MSD over the past three years leaving those remaining with unmanageable workloads,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
MSD’s internal review into the errors, released today, details how, in addition to the 6,270 pensioners that missed out on Winter Energy Payments due to errors in rushed legislation, 14,450 people had their main or supplementary benefits incorrectly cut due to a processing backlog caused unmanageable workloads involved in implementing legislative changes.
“It is clear from this review that New Zealanders missed out on money they need to survive because public servants are struggling with widespread burnout and unmanageable workloads,” said Fitzsimons. “The chickens are coming home to roost and it is New Zelanders who are paying the price for cuts made by this Government.”
MSD has cut more than 700 roles, almost 10% of its workforce, under the Government’s drive to cut costs. MSD workers were on strike yesterday.
The report describes how the problem was compounded by clients receiving automatic emails from MSD telling them their payments would be suspended: “This increased the number of clients contacting MSD at a time when staff were already managing higher-than expected mandatory CYC review workloads.”
“This is what happens to real people in the real world when National, ACT, and New Zealand First prioritise tax cuts for landlords and tobacco companies,” said Fitzsimons. “We will see more errors like this, as long as we have a government intent on dismantling the public service.
“This Government dismissed thousands of public servants and plans to dismiss thousands more,” said Fitzsimons. “The damage done will last for generations to come.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.