Union slams profit move
BNZ is proceeding with plans to relocate lending services jobs from its New Zealand operation payments department to Accenture in India.
The decision follows the outsourcing of 70 to 80 jobs from BNZ's sanctions and fraud team to India last year.
BNZ confirms job relocations
A BNZ spokesperson confirmed the proposal but provided limited details.
“We have been consulting with some colleagues who support lending activities on proposed changes to the way we operate and have confirmed a new operating model,” he said in an interest.co.nz report.
“We are unable to give an exact number of staff that will be impacted as we are committed to supporting our colleagues and identifying redeployment opportunities where possible.”
Interest.co.nz reported that about 50 of 80 jobs in the lending services centre will be moved to India. These roles are essential for preparing loan and security documents and acting as a contact between frontline bankers, customers, and their solicitors.
“We want to bring the very best global expertise and capability and deploy it locally, to enhance our customers’ banking experiences,” the BNZ spokesperson said. “To help us bring global best practice to New Zealanders, we partner with a number of international organisations, such as Accenture, Microsoft, and Amazon.”
First Union expresses disappointment
Callum Francis, First Union’s national organiser for finance, expressed strong disapproval.
“Offshoring New Zealanders’ jobs robs experienced bank workers of options, deprives others of the opportunity to get into banking, drives down local wages and represents yet more of Kiwis’ wealth being shipped offshore because of sheer greed at the top,” Francis said.
First Union, with nearly 500 members at BNZ, estimated about 40 union members are affected by the outsourcing, interest.co.nz reported.
First Union’s stand
Francis emphasised the union’s stance.
“BNZ should be leading the way for New Zealand companies by investing in their workforce, not clearing a path for offshoring projects that many other companies, including other major banks, are now lining up to follow,” he said.
“We expect successful employers to help grow the economy and keep New Zealanders in work.”
The union plans to fight for fair redeployment of experienced members and resist any attempt by BNZ to force members into unwanted redeployment opportunities.
“It’s a cliche but a true one: BNZ are putting profit above their people, and turning their backs on experienced bank workers just because they can,” Francis said. “We can and should expect more from employers.”
Access the interest.co.nz report here.
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