Positive Policy on Youth Employment

Written By: - Date published: 6:09 pm, August 4th, 2014 - 8 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, election 2014, employment, grant robertson, labour - Tags:

Other than fixing child poverty, there’s probably no more important policy than this. Labour will commit $183 million to a comprehensive Youth Employment Package designed to reach 24,000 young New Zealanders. Labour will get young New Zealanders off the unemployment benefit and into apprenticeships by paying the equivalent of the dole to employers willing to offer a permanent full time job.

Announcing the policy, Grant Robertson said:

“There are 75,000 Kiwis aged 15 to 24 who are not in work, education or training. That’s 11 per cent of our young people; double the unemployment rate of the rest of the population.

“Labour is targeting the under 20s because at that age young people make critical decisions about their careers which can determine their pathway in life. Our Youth Employment Package will reach the 24,000 unemployed Kiwis under 20.

“We will also implement a Contract with Youth to target those most in need of intensive support to give them meaningful alternatives to a life on a benefit.

Another very welcome development is a timely and welcome boost  to Maori trade training:

“We will fund an additional 2,000 Maori Trades Training places to help address disproportionately high unemployment rates among young Maori. These places will be established through partnerships between tertiary providers, iwi and industry training organisations for key sectors such as fishing and forestry. Labour will also establish 1,500 training places for the some of the 40 per cent of 15 to 19 year old Pasifika people who are unemployed.

The Youth Employment Package is part of Labour’s comprehensive economic plan to create jobs, lift incomes and pay down National’s record debt. The full strategy document is here.
Labour’s package will provide some security for many young people who otherwise face a precarious future. It’s a very positive move.
youthjobs

8 comments on “Positive Policy on Youth Employment ”

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  1. Clemgeopin 1
    4 August 2014 at 6:41 pm

    This is a very good and important policy.
    I was keen to see if the 6 pm news covered this. I was watching TV3. and no, nothing was mentioned by TV3! We do have very inefficient nd stupid managers at our MSM and TV outlets. They are a disgrace for the country and for democracy. It is inexcusable, especially during an election campaign period, not to inform the voters about various policies being rolled out by different parties. At least a brief mention is called for. What an inept, disgraceful fourth estate we have!

  2. Saarbo 2
    4 August 2014 at 7:55 pm

    Another great policy for Labour.

    Yet National managed to dominate todays headlines with the “Get tough on Gangs “http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/251334/tougher-measures-to-tackle-gang-crime Policy which Mary Wilson interviewing Anne Tolley discovered that it is a policy which will cost a mere $2 to $3m and it mostly already exists http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20144258. Obviously National were dealing with the negative political consequences of the gang related killing in West Auckland…and they managed to lead the lap dog that is our media along for the ride.

  3. philj 3
    4 August 2014 at 8:35 pm

    xox
    National Radio really has slipped in its quality and independence. I suppose, not surprising when you stack the board with Tory toadies.

  4. Colonial Viper 4
    4 August 2014 at 8:59 pm

    An outstanding policy. I would have doubled its size and opened it up to everyone up to the age of 25 (sometimes it takes that long for young people to go through a few ups and downs and finally decide that they might want to take a vocation seriously).

    But pretty good overall.

  5. Crunchtime 5
    5 August 2014 at 3:29 pm

    What about the bit where they seem to be suggesting that they’re going to biff out the window the good work of Careers New Zealand?

    At least according to a certain Herald article, that is.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/election-2014/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503581&objectid=11303469

    Replacing Careers NZ with an agency with a quarter of the funding doesn’t strike me as a good idea for Youth Employment.

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