6. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What assistance will be available to help the affected workers and communities as a result of the decision to lay off as many as 180 jobs from Sealord’s processing plant in Nelson?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Work and Income has a longstanding relationship with Sealord. With the local MP, Dr Nick Smith, Work and Income is already working alongside Sealord to mitigate the effects of the lay-offs. Work and Income is meeting with Sealord this week to provide on-site, individualised support. It is coordinating support and services with other agencies, helping staff find other jobs, offering help with CV preparation and upskilling, and providing information about the income support that is available, including this Government’s ReStart package.
Has the Minister seen the statement from the Service and Food Workers Union that suggests that Sealord may introduce a $70-a-week cut in wages across the board for workers who would otherwise face dismissal; and what action can the Government take to provide other options for Sealord?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
In the short term, Work and Income will be on-site on Friday, having further discussions on how it can best support these workers. Work and Income will work to ensure that people are receiving any income assistance that they are entitled to. For example, they may be entitled to accommodation assistance or Working for Families assistance.
Hon Annette KingCan the Minister confirm that many of the workers who are losing their jobs are women who are supplementing their families’ incomes just to keep their heads above water; if so, will she support a policy of providing a job seekers allowance to second-income earners who are made redundant but are unable to get a benefit, until they get back to work?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
We are in unprecedented tough times. We certainly acknowledge that women who are in that position are in for tough times. I encourage them to go to Work and Income, to check their partners’ income, to check how it works against them, and to check whether they are eligible for some sort of assistance.
Is the Minister aware that the Māori shareholders of Sealord attended the Prime Minister’s Job Summit last Friday, and what plans does the Government have for working with companies to make them responsible employers?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Yes, I am aware that they were there. I am not in the business of telling businesses how to run their businesses. What I am here to do is support those workers and those employees who need that assistance via Work and Income.