8 July 2002

Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton today outlined Progressive Coalition youth employment policies to 400 Lane Walker Rudkin staff in Christchurch.

“The Progressive Coalition will make sure all under 20 year olds are in jobs, education or employment by 2005.

“This will mean extending programmes already running in Canterbury to see that every school leaver is placed in a job, an apprenticeship, or training for a job or is furthering their education at a polytechnic or university.

“The dole is not an acceptable option for school leavers,” said Jim Anderton.

Jim Anderton also announced other Progressive Coalition commitments to the training of young people.

“The Progressive Coalition will increase Modern Apprenticeships from 3000 to 6000 and we want to see ensure 100,000 people are in skills training by 2005, up from the current 68,000 we have now.

“We believe that everyone should have access to paid employment. The prime aim of economic policy must be to achieve and maintain full employment with an adequate standard of living.

Jim Anderton visited Lane Walker Rudkin today and spoke to 400 workers who were present to witness the start of a new tensionless dyeing machine that will create more jobs in New Zealand.

Progressive Coalition policy also includes reviewing the number and quality of Industry Training Organisations (ITOs).

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