27 February 2012

Green Party comment on National’s welfare reforms announcement

National’s latest welfare reforms regarding solo mothers will put children at risk, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

National today announced that sole parents on a benefit who have additional children will be required to work part-time when their baby is one.

“Forcing solo mothers to look for work when their child is one year old is a purely punitive measure,” said Mrs Turei.

“This policy is aimed at forcing vulnerable mothers into low paid casual, part time work without any thought to how they will be able to get adequate child-care.

“The Government is ignoring scientific advice showing the early years are crucial in a child's development.

“The Government should be supporting those on the DPB to get ahead by supporting them in educational choices. A good first step would be re-instating the training incentive allowance to cover high end training courses.

“The Governments welfare reforms announced today are sadly aimed at about cost cutting and punishing a vulnerable sector of our society rather than helping the unemployed into jobs.”

ENDS

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