Give Beneficiaries A Chance

Wednesday 3 Nov 2004

Dr Muriel Newman - Press Releases - Social Welfare

If Labour truly wanted to ease the country's chronic worker shortage, it would not ignore the fact that there are more than 100,000 able-bodied New Zealanders currently paid to do nothing - when they would prefer to be working, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

"No one but Labour believes that beneficiaries do not want to work, which is why we currently have a 130,000-strong workforce waiting for an opportunity to work," Dr Newman said.

"But, under Labour's welfare laws, they will never get the chance. And, so, New Zealand taxpayers will continue to support more than 83,000 Unemployment Beneficiaries, and 53,860 DPB recipients with school-aged children, who would rather be supporting themselves.

"All that is required is a little commonsense and the right incentives: time limits, to return welfare to the temporary assistance it was originally designed to be; 40-hour weeks of work-based training and experience to prepare beneficiaries to re-enter the workforce; assistance with after-school care and childcare to allow sole parents flexibility and time to find employment.

"I am calling on this Government to give these people the chance they so dearly want. Only by receiving such help and incentives will these beneficiaries be able to become the breadwinners for their families. Then they can build a better future for themselves and their children, free from the welfare trap, and independent of State control," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media