6. KATRINA SHANKS (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports has she seen that support the employment opportunities in the Government’s Youth Opportunities package?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
I am pleased to say that I have seen a report from the ministry that shows that at the end of yesterday 414 Job Ops positions for young people have been put forward by employers. We are getting young New Zealanders into those employment opportunities quickly. Already, 55 young people have started work, and a further 79 young people are close to being placed in these roles. We are working hard with employers and community groups to ensure we back our young people in these tougher economic times.
What other reports has the Minister heard that support those employment opportunities for young people?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I have seen a report that the ministry is placing young people who have either never been in employment before or been out of employment for quite some time. I heard a media report on Nine to Noon on Radio New Zealand National of a restaurant owner in Te Kūiti who was on the verge of hiring possibly one person, but since he heard about this programme he has taken on another person, and he has now hired two people. Those two young women, aged 18 and 20, had left school and had never worked before. Those entry-level roles are giving them the opportunity they need to get the experience, skills, and on-the-job training to further themselves.
Jacinda ArdernWhat proportion of those young people does the Minister expect will still be in work 6 months from now, given that her own department’s website promotes the scheme to business by stating: “There is no expectation that the opportunity will lead to a long-term or permanent role.”?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
That is quite correct; that is the way the programme is designed. It is for 6 months. We have been quite up front about that. What that member might not realise is that young people are really disadvantaged in the workplace. They do not have a reference to take in to a job, they do not have skills, and they do not have work experience. That 6 months will give them work experience, and if they do well it will give them a really positive reference to take on to their next job. That is as much as this opportunity is about.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Actually, I have. I have seen a report that says it is “a step in the right direction”, and “Any initiative that creates opportunities for young people is to be welcomed.” That was from the member who promptly stood up just before and bagged the programme. She herself stood up and said not long ago that it was a step in the right direction.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
How many Māori organisations have expressed an interest in taking up the Community Max programme, and what are the types of projects that Māori communities are coming forward with?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
In total, to date we have received 119 registrations of interest for the Community Max programme. Of these, I believe around 40 percent are from Māori organisations. Some of them are from Māori trusts, and others are from Māori community groups. There is a wide range of community projects, and an example is a Māori organisation in Rotorua that has come forward with a project to renovate their marae. They are looking at taking on five young people on the Community Max programme over a 7 to 8-month period. Another Māori organisation in Dannevirke is looking at setting up a Māori library and is bringing young people on board to do that job as well.
I seek leave to table two documents. One is the criteria listed on the Work and Income website for the Job Ops scheme.
Mr SPEAKERThe second document is my entire press statement released in response to the Government’s Job Ops scheme.