‘Jolt’ Must Deliver Real Jobs

The Government’s “Jobs Jolt” initiative will succeed if it actively supports people into real sustainable work rather than penalising sole parents on benefits, Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

The Government this afternoon unveiled the $104.5 million jobs package to tackle skill shortages and get more New Zealanders into work.

The CTU is concerned that the “case management” of sole parents included in the “Jobs Jolt” programme should not operate as a work test which fails to recognise the valuable, unpaid caring work done by sole parents.

“It also needs to take into account their concentration in low-paid, casual work, and the need for better family-friendly workplaces, and childcare,” Carol Beaumont said.

The CTU is already working with the Government and employers on industry training programmes, workplace learning and apprenticeship schemes, to build a high wage, high skill, quality economy, she said.

“There needs to be on-going union involvement in any initiative that addresses skill shortages and directly involves working people.”

The CTU supported the programme in other areas such as the plan for remote employment services, cyber communities and the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs.

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