Government to increase Unemployment by cutting MSD staff

Kay Brereton of the Wellington People's Centre is critical of the Governments move to cut staffing levels in the Ministry of Social Development.

"Surely in these days of economic recession cutting staff at the Ministry is adding to the crisis by increasing the numbers of people out of work and looking for jobs.

It is difficult to understand how a week after the Minister advised that unemployment is expected to reach 80000; her Ministry while preparing to deal with this increased workload is downsized.

It is inconsistent for the government to be urging private employers to try not to lay off staff, whilst themselves cutting staff numbers in the Ministry that is obviously busier in the recession with unemployment steadily increasing.

John Key excluded government from the nine day fortnight and it appears that there is one rule for private employers, and another for his government. A move such as cutting civil servant jobs is going to bring the reality of the recession to Wellington. Perhaps it needs to be under the noses of the government before they can see the reality of the hardship that unemployment creates."

ENDS

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