The thing that depresses me the most about National’s so-called welfare reforms is that they are fuelled by outdated Tory thinking. Here was me thinking that the ‘modern’ National Party was not bogged down in ideology, and was focused on “what works”. But no, it is a “kick in the pants” and time to stop “living the dream”. For National unemployment is the fault of the unemployed, and if only they pulled their socks up everything would be all right.
I have said before on this blog that I, along with most people, am appalled if people rip off the system. Where that happens we should crack down. But let’s also not accept the myth that the current system is all carrot and no stick. At the moment people on the unemployment benefit have to be seeking work. Work and Income monitor benefit recipients closely. It is true that there is no work test for DPB recipients. So much for family friendly National. I am anxiously awaiting to hear of the thousands of jobs conveniently timed for 9-3pm that have flexibility over sick days.
The experience of Trevor in the Dominion Post is much more like the reality of the people who I have seen in my office in recent months. They want to use their skills. They, and we as taxpayers, have invested in their skills, but the jobs are not there for them at the moment.
A kick in the pants might sound good, but in the end if we are to actually move people off benefits and into work it requires a constructive, active approach to go with clear rules. Most other countries we normally compare ourselves to had massive investments in job creation through the recession. We had a cycleway.
The reality is this policy does not have any vision for how we move more people into work, because it is not about helping to create jobs, or to find ways to work with long term unemployed. It is straight out dog whistle politics that seeks to re-inforce an image of ‘bludging no hopers who are a drain on resources’. No matter the evidence of the thousands of people who lined up for jobs at a supermarket in Auckland recently. If it plays well with some prejudices that might exist in the electorate then it seems National want to go there.
Posted in Unemployment, Jobs and Inequality. |
Today there has been a deluge of statistics on unemployment, and they make depressing reading for sure
- Unemployment at 6.5%
- 150,000 Kiwis out of work, up 12,000 over the past three months
- Highest unemployment in 15 years
- Unemployment up 37% since National came into office
- Maori Unemployment up from 12.6% to 14.2%,
Ugly numbers, but for many people it is so much more than just numbers, it is reality. In my electorate office, and I am sure in other electorate offices across the country, I have had a number of people badly affected by the loss of jobs. The woman who lost her public service job, at the same time as her son’s company that she had been a guarantor for went bust. The manager in his 50s who unemployed for the first time in his life was spiralling into depression. The graduates applying for, and missing out on, cleaning and retail jobs.
The statistics might show we are coming out of a recession but that is meaningless to those who have lost their jobs, and to the families that are affected.
The government is still to show us the plan to invest in people who have lost their jobs. In Australia there have been large scale investments in skills and training, and in research and development. In New Zealand we have seen cuts to adult and community education and research and development tax credits.
National used to talk a lot about the wage gap between Australia and New Zealand. Well here is another gap. New Zealand went into the recession with a lower unemployment rate than Australia. Australia’s unemployment rate is now 5.7%, stable this quarter. Our is now 6.5% up .05% this quarter.
Maybe Rodney is right, when it comes to jobs this is a do nothing government, seemingly without a plan.
Posted in Economy and Jobs. |
The staff at Parliament are a fantastic bunch. They are incredibly dedicated and helpful, and actually play a really important role in keeping our democracy going. There are two collective contracts running at Parliament one for MPs staff and the other for all the administrative, security, messengers etc. The latter contract is up for discussion at the moment and the staff are taking industrial action in the face of an effective pay freeze and an attempt to clawback on their redundancy conditions.
There was a rally today at Parliament which a number of Labour MPs attended to show our support for the staff who work hard to keep us safe, informed and happy. These staff are aware of the economic conditions the country is facing, but they deserve the respect not to have their pay and conditions dictated to them, and to have the opportunity to sit at the table and negotiate a fair deal.
Posted in Union, Redundacy, Public Services, Deomcracy and Jobs. |
The latest Research NZ Business Confidence Survey is out, and the good news is that many businesses are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel (which is not an on-coming train!). 50% of respondents are expecting better conditions in six months and 75% better conditions within a year. This has to be good in terms of investment and planning, and in turn to improving employment.
The government response to the recession takes a bit of a hammering in the survey. In particular the much trumpeted job summit gets the thumbs up from 1% of respondents only, with 50% saying it would have no impact at all. That is damning for what was meant to be the centrepiece of the government’s response to the recession. I am detecting a tendency in this government to set things up with a blaze of publicity, but let things fall away with the follow - through. See last week with Tony Ryall and the much vaunted state sector redeployment scheme.
The business ‘wish list’ at the bottom of today’s article also makes interesting reading. One of the big things I have heard from businesses is their disappointment that the government has not done more to support training and skill development in the recession. This is the place where government can have a big impact, supporting people to gain the new skills that will drive us forward as we get out of the recession. This has been a major focus in Australia and UK, but sadly, not here.
Posted in Jobs, Business, Employment and Education. |
