15 Jul 2011

Economist puzzled by ACC proposal

1:03 pm on 15 July 2011

Economist Peter Harris is puzzled about why the Government wants to change an Accident Compensation Corporation employers' programme when he says there's little appetite in it.

Consultation finishes on Friday on whether to extend the Accredited Employer Programme and open competition for private insurers to cover the workplace.

The ACC Futures Coalition group commissioned a report on the proposals by the proposals by the Department of Labour.

Mr Harris, the report's author, says he does not know why the scheme should be extended when the number of employers leaving the programme has declined.

He says there has been a 6% fall since 2006.

Mr Harris says about 136 employers are currently involved in the programme.