Social welfare changes miss the mark for Pacific Islanders

14 per cent of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand are currently unemployed and they will find no comfort in the Social Development Minister’s social welfare reforms, Labour's Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said today.

"Social Development Minister Paula Bennett 'strongly believes that people are better off in work'. Well, so do they, but where are the jobs?” said Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.

“For most Kiwis on the dole at the moment wanting to be at work is not the problem, the availability of paid work is.

"Where are the government's plans to create jobs and upskill Pacific people?

"Instead of providing real jobs or training National is showing a huge lack of understanding of the problems facing Pacific people, solo parents, and other beneficiaries.

"In the last year 5000 Pacific people have become unemployed taking the total to a little over 12,000. Pacific people like all other Kiwis are thankful for the assistance a benefit provides but would much rather be in work.

“The current ‘do nothing’ Government has kept true to form for Pacific Islanders. It’s using rhetoric to divert attention away from its own poor performance of getting Kiwis back into jobs.

ENDS

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