Learning or Earning trumps Benefit Card

Thursday, 1 September 2011, 2:48 pm
Press Release: NZCTU

1 September 2011

The Council of Trade Unions youth wing Stand Up welcomes Labour's youth employment policy package released today.

Spokesperson James Sleep says “this policy is a big step in the right direction and covers some of the most critical areas the Government has been inadequately addressing.”

“The National Government's response to this crisis have not been bold enough. Its recent announcements have been misdirected towards a small number of young people on a benefit and not focussed on creating jobs. We welcome Labour's commitment to strengthening youth transitions and investing in new and innovative initiatives to get young people into apprenticeships and jobs.”

“We are particularly supportive of the training subsidy to employers - it’s an innovative way to create sustainable employment for young people which includes a training component, something which is currently missing in the Government’s Job Ops scheme.”

“Groups such as the New Zealand Institute, the Industry Training Federation and the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs have spoken about the need to strengthen youth transitions or other initiatives adopted by Labour. It is good to see policy based on evidence and experience."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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.

Contact New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

• Website - union.org.nz/
• Media Contact - communications@nzctu.org.nz
• Phone - +64 4 385 1334
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Twitter - @togetherunionnz
• Physical Address - Level 3, 79 Boulcott Street, Wellington.
• Postal Address - PO Box 6645, Marion Square, Wellington 6141.