10. JO GOODHEW (National—Rangitata) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What is the Government doing to create employment opportunities at a local level and particularly for young people?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The Government and the Mayors Task Force for Jobs signed a memorandum of understanding to tackle common issues around unemployment. This extends the relationship from the way it was previously; it makes it meaningful. It is a memorandum about how we will support our young people in unemployment and it extends into other areas. It is another initiative that comes out of the Prime Minister’s Job Summit.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Last week we announced an extension to the Job Support Scheme for businesses with 50 to 100 staff—another Job Summit success story. This extends the scheme, allowing companies to operate a 9-day working fortnight in an effort to save jobs. Now an additional 2,000 firms and 140,000 staff are eligible.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Next week the household labour force survey announcement will give an official rate of unemployment. However, latest unemployment benefit numbers paint a gloomy picture. Numbers on the unemployment benefit were up by 95 percent in March over the same month last year, and we expect that the figures will get worse. But I can say that Work and Income is doing an outstanding job at triaging people through, and I think that number would have been a lot higher if it were not for the work the department is doing.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
How can the Minister reconcile the approach to job creation with the Government’s decision to dismiss nearly 1,000 public servants?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
There is no dismissing of public servants. My own department has been doing a value-for-money process that was started by Labour 2 years ago. In briefing the incoming Minister, it looked at some changes it could make. I think I would like to thank the previous Government for starting that process that we can now follow through.
Dr Rajen PrasadWhat importance does the Minister place on the 2008 New Zealand Skills Strategy, and what is she going to do to implement its recommendations in order to enhance the real employment opportunities for young people?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
With the Skills Strategy, this Government is looking at some of those initiatives that fit in the current situation. We are in a very different time from what we were in just 1 year ago. This Government is fully committed to upskilling our workforce, and upskilling those who find themselves unemployed. We are dealing with the now and with the future, and we will be doing that very conscientiously.