How can you support prisoner employment initiatives?

Employment contracts

• Do you run your own business or know someone who does and needs an extra pair of trained hands to complete the task at hand?
• Are you a local council or community group that needs assistance in up keeping building or grounds maintenance?
• Have your clients come to you with a large-scale job to complete and you don’t have the resources or the time to meet requirements?
• Are there aspects of your business that you believe can be completed off-site?
• Do you need to expand your business but don’t have the room or the staffing to do so?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then CIE may be able to assist. We have contractual agreements with a range of external clients ranging from local and regional councils, government departments to private businesses. We can provide internal and external contract work parties from within our established industries to service your needs.

If you believe we can assist in meeting your business needs, then call CIE on 04 470 8494
or email cieworktraining@corrections.govt.nz to discuss potential mutually beneficial opportunities.

Release to Work

• Is there a particular job that you just can’t seem to find qualified staff to fill?
• Want to help a prisoner reintegrate into the community by providing them with a chance at life without crime?

If you operate a business or know someone who does and is keen to:

• employ a highly motivated and enthusiastic worker who has a strong work ethic;
• fill a position that you may have been finding difficult to recruit for in the current labour market; or
• assess a potential employee’s skill and motivation prior to offering them a permanent position;

then Release to Work programme may be suited to you.

Release to Work is a programme that provides employers with workers who have demonstrated a strong work ethic whilst in prison. Prisoners who meet the specified criteria are temporarily released during the day to work in ordinary jobs in the community. They are paid market-based wages and must receive at least the minimum wage.

How will you be supported if you take on a Release to Work employee?

• CIE staff regularly monitor prisoners at their place of work, and are in ongoing contact with the employer to ensure conditions are been complied with.
• All prisoners will be provided with an understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace before starting employment.
• All prisoners are randomly tested for drugs and alcohol.
• CIE will assist the prisoner with transport arrangements to and from their place of employment, ensuring that prisoners arrive at work on time.
• The majority of prisoners will receive work experience and training prior to engaging in Release to Work.

Interested in obtaining more information?
Phone 0800 RtWCIE (0800 789 243) or email cie.releasetowork@corrections.govt.nz

Employer testimonials:

"We are a forestry contracting company involved in Silviculture work in the greater Hawkes Bay area, employing a fluctuating workforce of around 20. We find Release to Work prisoners to be good value for our business:

• They are reliable, turning up to work each day
• They are drug and alcohol free
• They are appreciative of the chance of employment and training
• They are available at short notice and don’t mind working overtime"

Russell Grattan
Director, Grattan Contracting

"We were suitably impressed by our experience with the Release to Work programme. Our worker was hardworking, respectful and highly productive, and on release we offered him a full time position with our company. We intend using this scheme again if a worker of the same calibre can be made available."

Roger Bolam
Business Manager, Twin Lakes Sheetmetals.