The Australian business community is urging Kiwis to look across the ditch for learnings on how to prepare for the Omicron outbreak and its potential impact on the supply chain.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott says New Zealand needs to learn from the impacts of Omicron on Australian workforces and work quickly.
“When it comes to Omicron, New Zealand has the enormous advantage of being able to learn from the things we’ve done well in Australia and those we haven’t. My strong advice is to act now.”
Westacott’s comments come from a recent presentation hosted by OCS New Zealand and facilitated by former Prime Minister Sir Bill English.
The forum provided an opportunity for business leaders across every sector of the economy to hear the steps required to mitigate the looming Omicron crisis.
Australia has being tackling the new outbreak over the past four months and businesses have seen absenteeism rise to 40% across some sectors crippling supply chains.
Other learnings included the importance of having access to skilled migrants and open borders, including re-introducing working holiday and student visas – but also pointing out the importance of having complimentary schemes so as not to cannibalise the labour market between the two countries.
She told the audience they also needed to step up to provide greater guidance on return-to-work policies, especially for those occupying CBD spaces, and work closely with government to ensure better, more meaningful information to inform decision making.
BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope says the the forum provided an opportunity to hear from someone with their finger on the pulse of the business sector.
“One of the key impacts of operating in a Covid environment is uncertainty. If we can get the information and support we need from government we can move decisively and provide surety for our people, painting that long-term picture,” Hope says.
