Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.
“A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030 is making sure the welfare system is geared towards helping people get back on their feet quickly.
“About 188,000 people currently receive Jobseeker Support but only about 53,000 of them have employment case managers at any given time, so early intervention is required to make sure the others are taking steps towards finding work.
“MSD’s new Kōrero Mahi – Let’s Talk Work seminars are one way we’re doing this. People who come onto Jobseeker Support must now attend one within a fortnight to have their employment needs assessed and their next step decided.
“If they’re ready to work, they could be helped to apply for a job. If they need re-training or upskilling, they could be referred to a programme that can help.
“These compulsory work seminars will make sure all new Jobseeker beneficiaries get the support they need and understand what’s expected of them.
“Those who do not attend without a good and sufficient reason could be sanctioned.
“This new initiative follows steps we’ve already taken to make the welfare system more proactive, which include our expectations about the application of benefit sanctions and new work check-ins for job seekers after six months.
“The number of people who have been on Jobseeker Support continuously for more than a year grew by about 40,000 under the previous government and under-25 are now projected to spend an of average 19 more years on a benefit.
“We’re not prepared to sit back and let welfare dependency get any worse, which is why we’re intervening early to get job seekers on the pathway to work.”
What are they going to do about sickness beneficiaries? I know two people both who could work but have not for over 10 years. One drinks too much and the other just doesn’t want to work so suffers ‘pain’. I guarantee I am in more daily pain than that guy only difference is I have more dignity than to bludge.
If we have so many jobless then WHY are we allowing immigrants who are unskilled to come in?
The real bludgers mate are to be found in the Dronehive…You know the one’s giving themselves a big fat pay rise, for no obvious reason…I mean its not as if many are good at their jobs, behave like spoilt children or even know whet their jobs actually are.
I also know of a few people who are genuinely sick and don’t deserve to be tarred with this brush, too….
There’s no point working in NZ… Your still broke at the end of the week
On the pathway to work that either doesn’t exist because one person is doing the job or three or is given to cheap, imported labour, at low, low, rates of pay….but don’t worry the milkshake tax cuts will make a huge difference, to those who are struggling along in NZ’s third world employment market……..oh and don’r worry about inflation and excessive Council rates hikes….many will all live in tents and “east ze bugs”, sooner or later…………….whilst big business buys up any stock of houses and turns them into tenements, for the marginally moneyed poor…….
How many thousands of jobs have been relinquished through the Govt cost cutting phase of late? The requirement to attend seminars will require a ‘stadium’ just to cater for the masses. Coupled with high Immigration, business closures etc I envisage some of these experienced personnel may well have opportunities to be redeployed to the likes of WINZ /MSD as I am absolutely certain over the coming months there will inevitably be very, very long queues of individuals needing help under urgency.
Notwithstanding additional pressure for food banks, emergency housing and a significant rise in house mortgagee sales.
This year is going to be sad and bleak for many and as fast as our Govt is needing to reign in the spend, I just wonder whether they are actually prepared for the outfall…sadly, it will be very significant for many, many families.