Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Government failing young Kiwis
Government failing young Kiwis
The New Zealand youth union movement, Stand Up, is calling on the Government to reinstate funding for the recently axed youth unemployment initiative, Community Max, to assist young New Zealanders who are currently out of work and education.
National Convener, James Sleep, says the Government is all talk when it comes to solving youth unemployment, and the axing of one of their key youth unemployment initiatives, Community Max, has shown they have failed to walk the talk.
"Youth unemployment is steadily rising.
The June Quarterly Household Labour Force Survey released
earlier this month showed that youth unemployment increased
to 18.2 percent. Most concerning is the increase in
unemployment of Māori and Pacific youth - 30.3% and 30.6%,
up from 24.8% and 25.8% respectively in June 2009." says
Sleep.
Sleep says these statistics show a crisis in the
area of youth unemployment, and the last thing the
Government should be doing is axing initiatives like
Community Max, which aim to get young Kiwis up skilled and
into work.
"The Government's priorities are wrong.
Whilst youth unemployment is increasing, the Government is
cutting funding to job creation initiatives, education and
skills development. The axing of Community Max strengthens
the case that the Government is failing young New
Zealanders. When many young New Zealanders need assistance
to up skill and get into work the Government has cut
pathways of opportunities"
Stand Up believes the Government is missing in action in the area of youth unemployment and must immediately pump money into creating opportunities for the tens of thousands of young people currently out of work and education, not just paying lip service to some of New Zealand's most vulnerable people.
"New Zealand will be better off with a skilled and productive workforce. Simply ignoring the issue and allowing tens of thousands of young people to languish on benefits, and the negative social outlook it creates, will only hinder our short and long term economic recovery" Sleep concluded.
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
John Mazenier: Gaffer Tape And Glue Delivering New Zealand’s Mission Critical Services
Earthquake Commission: Ivan Skinner Award Winner Inspired By Real-life Earthquake Experience
Reserve Bank: Consultation Opens On A Digital Currency For New Zealand
NIWA: Ship Anchors May Cause Extensive And Long-lasting Damage To The Seafloor, According To New Research
New Zealand Customs Service: A Step Forward For Simpler Trade Between New Zealand And Singapore
Horizon Research: 68% Say Make Banks Offer Fraud Protection
