Sue Moroney
Women’s Affairs Spokesperson

28 February 2012

Women bear the brunt of government ghost jobs hunt

The burden of being required to look for jobs that aren’t there will fall most heavily on women under National’s welfare reforms, says Labour’s spokesperson for Women’s Affairs, Sue Moroney.

“Sole parents – and 88 per cent receiving the DPB are women - were looking for the announcement from the Government that it would reinstate cuts to the training incentive allowance to enable them to gain higher qualifications to better equip them for the job market

“It didn’t happen. Instead they have been told they will have to compete with the 150,000 other New Zealanders without work for a dwindling number of jobs.

“Widows will also be required to join the queue,” Sue Moroney said.

“Paula Bennett can talk all she likes about ‘wrapping’ support around the jobless, but it rings pretty hollow when she and her colleagues place such a low value on parenting, and on looking after the children of beneficiaries and those whose fathers have died.

“These welfare reforms are another example of how much this government undervalues parenting, even though research shows children need the most support in those early years to have the best chance of becoming valuable members of our society,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media