Sasha Borissenko July 16, 2007 Select Committee

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A Youth MP fears government policy surrounding youth employment will increase “the exploitation of young people”.

As part of the 2013 Youth Parliament, 11 Youth MPs gathered for the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee today to discuss the barriers to young people entering employment across the country and how they can be improved.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment science, skills and innovation deputy chief executive Paul Stocks said lowering the starting out wage for at least six months would help youths “get a foot in the door”.

Having a cheaper option for employers would mean youths would have an advantage over older people, he said.

Careers NZ Dr Graeme Benny said barriers affecting young people entering the workforce were “everyone’s problem”.

He said a lot of young people did not take responsibility for their decisions.

“A lot of our kids are very demotivated for a variety of reasons.”

Employers & Manufacturers Association advisory services manager David Lowe said employers failed to hire young people because they brought additional issues such as failing to show up for work.

“We want to stack as many cards as possible for that young person. If a person is cheaper, an employer is more likely to give them a go.”

“We are talking about a job or no job.”

Youth MP for NZ First’s Tracey Martin said the proposed changes could lead to “the exploitation of young people”.

There was an emphasis on increasing employment for youth but at what cost, she said.

“I’m so peeved off that they are sitting there telling me they are helping me out but really they are proposing to make things a lot worse.”

Miss Martin said she did not see herself as any different from those of an older age.

“It feels really ageist. I’m really angry about that,” she said.

Green MP Holly Walker said she and her party would not agree with the “business perspective” that was employed in the select committee.

“The reality is that it is not a choice between being hired or not.

“You need to level the playing field,” she said.

Ms Walker said there was too much emphasis on the how young people negatively affect the workplace.

“Where were the statistics? There is a stereotypical view of young people that we saw today,” she said.

“It’s a particularly skewed way of looking at the situation.

“We need to look at the positives of hiring young people. They are flexible, creative and energetic,” she said.

Today marked the seventh NZ Youth Parliament where 121 high school students represented their MPs for two days to discuss issues relating to youth in New Zealand.

ENDS

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