The Education and Workforce select committee has released a report on the Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill with a majority recommendation that it not be passed.

The Member's bill was introduced by National MP Harete Hipango. It seeks to amend the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to allow volunteer associations to employ people to work for a limited amount of time (up to 100 hours) each week, without incurring the duties of a “person conducting a business or undertaking” (PCBU).

The bill proposes that volunteer organisations should be excluded from duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act if their paid employees work for less than 100 hours a week.

The bill was referred to the committee on 2 May 2018 with submissions closing on 29 June 2018. The committee received 34 submissions.