Revelations that the workplace sickness is costing the Government millions of dollars in sick leave alongside lost productivity are behind growing calls for the introduction of a National Standard for the NZ cleaning industry.

"There are government departments spending over $1 million each year on sick leave payments which we believe can be reduced through the introduction of a National Standards for the cleaning industry, and not only provide healthier workplaces but save taxpayers this expense," said New Zealand's leading commercial cleaning company Crest Cleans' managing director Grant McLauchlan.

Figures released under the Official Information Act that Crest has sighted, shows that the NZ Police topped the list of government departments for sick leave spending over $21 million during the 2009/2010 financial year.

Of the 58 government departments that responded to questions about costs being incurred as a result of workplace illness, 17 spent over $1 million in annual sick leave payments.

"Crest believes that there is a significant opportunity to reduce these costs and put a renewed focus back onto the health element instead of solely looking at the safety message," said Mr McLauchlan.

"However to do that the New Zealand needs a comprehensive set of National Standards to tidy up the cleaning industry and we're pleased that the Ministry of Economic Development is looking into this."

"With recent reports that ill-health is costing the economy at least $5 billion a year and affecting the country's productivity levels, the sooner these National Standards are introduced, the sooner we can see workers health improve and taxpayer dollars saved," Mr McLauchlan said.

Source Voxy New Zealand