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| No.182 | 31 March 2003 | Essential Information on an Essential Issue |
 of key events over the last few weeks. GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT SLOWDOWN NEW CHILD POVERTY REPORT RAISING CHILDREN IS NATION-BUILDING WORK MAYORS MEET IN CHRISTCHURCH AN "ECONOMY OF CONNECTION" GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY UPDATE ENGLISH ON WELFARE REFORM FIRST HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU YOUTH WEBSITE OZ BUSINESS LEADERS CONCERNED ABOUT UNDERCLASS
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Index to Features
26 February 2003School leaders tell a parliamentary select committee there needs to be mandatory standards set for teacher training graduates. Schools principals and other groups say they are angry about the quality of courses run by some smaller teacher training institutions and that schools are being presented with graduates who are ill-prepared for the classroom. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries two-thirds of NZ physical export earnings come from agriculture, forestry and horticulture. By 2005 the Asia-Pacific region will have more IT programmers and developers than North America according to industry monitor International Data Corp. US-based telephone toll carrier WorldCom cuts another 5,000 jobs. 27 February 2003Dame Kiri Te Kanawa says she wishes more Maori were driven by hard work, had more pride, and did not rely on benefits. She says the saddest thing is that Maori had slipped through the cracks of education. 28 February 2003The NZ Veterinary Association says there is a13% shortage of vets, mostly practicing on farms. Chief executive Murray Gibbs says that high student debts and low starting pay are luring many graduates overseas. Minister of Tertiary Education Steve Maharey says we cannot operate our economy without vets. A tertiary review paper due out in May will consider ways to retain veterinarians, as well as doctors, immediately after graduation. The median age for NZ women having a first child has risen to 30 years and the average number of babies a woman has has dropped to 1.9 per mother. This declining birth rate is expected to result in the number of children in the population gradually reducing from the current 23% to 17% over the next 25 years. Many Maori leaders expressed their disappointment with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's comments about the state of Maori in NZ. Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon agrees that Maori have issues that need addressing, but says "…you don't do it by putting down a whole race". National MP Georgina te Heuheu says most of Dame Kiri's comments were inappropriate and based on stereotype, not fact. Labour MP Tariana Turia suggests how Dame Kiri could have approached the issue more appropriately. She says Maori were proud of Dame Kiri's achievements and that she had been an inspiration to many of her people. Turia: "The best thing is when anyone who achieves remembers all those who advised and guided and supported them … and to try and return something to their roots to nurture the coming generation". 2 March 2003A shortage of qualified social workers means that the successful Social Workers in Schools early intervention project is unlikely to be extended as planned, according to Massey University researchers. 3 March 2003The Post Primary Teachers Association submission on GATS recommends that the government does not engage in any further negotiations on the agreement until a thorough review is conducted of the impact it would have on development, democracy, environmental sustainability, health and human rights. 4 March 2003The parliamentary Social Services select committee says that direct debiting rent money would help to solve the budgeting problems faced by many beneficiaries. This reflects a suggestion made last month by Labour Cabinet Minister John Tamihere. The committee also expresses its concern that many tenants in income-related state houses are staying too long and have no incentive to move on. 5 March 2003Massey University is working on a study to find ways to match worker skills with sustainable jobs. Researcher Paul Spoonley says the work is intended to help make the most of the NZ talent pool, ensure that education fits present and future employment needs, and that sustainable job growth opportunities are followed up. The number of NZ'ers moving to Australia to live has reduced by nearly 40% over the past year, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Immigration. Last April, Australia barred NZ'ers from eligibility to social welfare benefits until two years after their arrival. 6 March 2003The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs holds its annual meeting in Christchurch. At the meeting the Taskforce signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the NZ Council of Trade Unions. Migrants to NZ are better educated, have a higher employment and lower unemployment rate now
than five years ago, according to the Department of Labour. Its latest External Migration report is
available at: www.dol.govt.nz/PDFs/
The US unemployment rate rises to 5.8%. 7 March 2003Rotorua engineering firms say they are suffering from a "chronic" shortage of skilled workers. Local firms blame the scrapping of the old apprenticeships system a decade ago. The NZ dollar rises to its highest value since PM Robert Muldoon floated it in 1985. 8 March 2003In Nelson, the government attends the first of what is planned to be a series of 13 regional meetings on how to address skills shortages. 10 March 2003National MP Maurice Williamson calls for a work-for-the-dole scheme as well as random drug testing as a condition for people to receive the dole. Global IT company EDS plans to establish a Business Processing Outsourcing centre in NZ. The government is to contribute $1.5 million to the venture and Minister of Economic Development Jim Anderton says as many as 360 high tech jobs may be created. Fewer than one-in-five NZ workers take their allocated lunch break, according to a survey done by recruitment agency Robert Walters. 11 March 2003A war with Iraq could cost US air carriers $10.7 billion and 70,000 jobs, according to James May of the Aviation Transport Association. May says sequential airline bankruptcies are inevitable if passenger numbers drop as expected. The European Central Bank lowers its interest rate to 2.5%. 12 March 2003State benefits, pensions and allowances will rise 1.82% from 1 April as a cost of living adjustment. The Auckland People's Centre is technically insolvent and laid-off 19 advocacy and support staff earlier this year. Free medical and dental services continue to operate at the Centre and co-founder, Green MP Sue Bradford, says she expects the advocacy and related services to be restored later this year. ACT MP Gerry Eckhoff claims that the rural sector is awash with employment opportunities but that many people on the dole are too unfit to do the work. 13 March 2003Associate Minister of Employment Rick Barker says ACT Party claims about the fitness of the unemployed people amounts to beneficiary bashing. 900 people in the Nelson/Tasman districts and 2,310 in the Hawke's Bay people have come off the unemployment register, and Barker says they have largely gone to orchard work. Barker says the Hawke's Bay fruitgrowers' federation is unaware of any major labour shortages. The Australian unemployment rate drops to 6.0%. 17 March 2003780 of the 193,000 NZ'ers who earned more than $60,000 last year derived at least part of their income from a government welfare benefit, according to the Minister of Finance Michael Cullen. 18 March 2003The Child Poverty Action Group's report "Our Children: The Priority for Policy" is launched at the Beehive. The Department of Labour publishes its updated Employment Strategy: Progress to Date. The government is investigating ways of encouraging more employers to set up superannuation schemes for their workers. Just 3% of NZ employers offer super schemes and 16% of workers take part in these. 19 March 2003The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is to print its credit cards in Christchurch threatening hundreds of jobs in Victoria, according to Australian union officials. Qantas will temporarily cut another 1,000 jobs through a forced-leave programme. The airline has already cut 1,500 in anticipation of slower business due to the war in Iraq.
20 March 2003200 jobs may disappear from the Wellington area as Telecom NZ advances plans to merge its Hutt Valley contact centre with its Hamilton facility.
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GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT SLOWDOWN
NEW CHILD POVERTY REPORTThe publication of the second edition of Our Children: The Priority for Policy shows that those involved in CPAG are clearly frustrated as they wait for the debate on child poverty to be turned into meaningful legislated policies. While CPAG acknowledges that many small policy initiatives for families and children have been put in place over the last two years, it concludes that the government's commitment to eradicating child poverty has stalled and criticises the government's 2002 Budget for failing to deliver significant improvements for children. CPAG is calling for the immediate amalgamation of the Child Tax Credit with Family Support, thereby eliminating the exclusion of families on a benefit from getting the tax credit. It also wants all family assistance allocations to be adjusted for rises in inflation.
Source — Our Children: The Priority for Policy (2nd edition); Press release 18 March 2003 Child Poverty action Group "New report highlights emerging social problems"; Speech notes for the launch of "Our Children: The Priority for Policy" by Progressive Coalition Leader Jim Anderton 18 March 2003;RAISING CHILDREN IS NATIONAL-BUILDING WORKUnder the new regime, people on the DPB or WB will be required to participate in a planning process that promotes goal setting and planning for the time when their circumstances allow them to combine parenting and paid work successfully. Helped by their case manager, they are required to develop a Personal Development and Employment (PDE) plan. This plan is expected to reflect the person's parenting and family needs, identify their barriers to employment, and identify ways to improve their skills and participation in the community. Clients will meet with their case manager at least once a year to update their PDE. Under the work-testing regime, the main focus for Winz case managers was to place DPB clients into jobs. Maharey says this was counter-productive and discounted what was going on in each individual family's life. Forcing people into taking up jobs they did not like, or want, often found them bouncing back onto the DPB. Maharey says the new Act recognises that most people receiving Domestic Purposes or Widows Benefits want to improve their own and their children's circumstances and they do not need to be "shoe-horned" into any job no matter how unsuitable it might be in light of their family responsibilities. Maharey: "… raising healthy successful children is vital nation-building work. The new rules assist beneficiaries to move into paid work but being a good parent must come first." Source — Press release Ministry of Social Development 6 March 2003 "Better personal service promised for Sole Parents"; Press release National Party 10 March 2003 "Back to the future with Labour's policy"; The Dominion Post 8 March 2003 "Benefits to society" by Diana Dekker; Press release NZ First 10 March 2003 "Government makes dpb a career choice"; Press release MSD 18 September 2002 "New legislation good for families"; Press release MSD 6 March 2003 "Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act questions and answers"; The Dominion Post 12 March 2003 editorial "Dpb decision sends the wrong message"; New Zealand Herald 13 March 2003 "Simplying benefits making a difference" comment by Steve MahareyMAYORS MEET IN CHRISTCHURCHTaskforce Chairman and Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore says: "It's taken a while to get everyone committed to the ideas behind the Taskforce, and I reckon we're at the end of that phase and now it's time to really start pushing for results and swapping information about what's working well. We also want to make sure all our young people know that they're valued, that they're wanted in their communities and that we're backing them to succeed ..." Jim Anderton, Minister of Economic Development, who attended the Christchurch forum, says the Mayors Taskforce is playing a "vital role" in building localised support for economic growth. Anderton: "In the early days of this government we faced some opposition from some local authorities, and others, that jobs and economic development were not roles that local government had any responsibility for. In part, because of the creation of the Mayors Taskforce this has now changed. Your prioritisation of youth employment is also one shared by the Labour Progressive Government, and we have been proud to work in partnership with you."
MAYORS SIGN-UP WITH CTUTaskforce Chairman Garry Moore describes signing this Memorandum as "another major achievement for the Taskforce". CTU Secretary Paul Goulter says: "We are all concerned that despite high demand for labour, there is still nearly 100,000 registered unemployed and we all need to co-operate to improve this situation." — the full Memorandum of Understanding is available on the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs website at www.jobsletter.org.nz/mtfjobs.htm
YOUTH NETWORK TO BE ESTABLISHEDFor more information, contact Sen Thong at email Sen@back2basics.co.nz phone 04-970-5529 or 021-147-6254
BEST PRACTICE PUBLICATIONGarry Moore: " We know that there is a wealth of opportunities for young people in their own communities and these examples show that. This guide not only tells about the projects but also gives you the key factors for success. I hope it will be widely used and the examples copied, changed and developed in communities throughout the country ... "
AN ECONOMY OF CONNECTIONGOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY UPDATEMaharey says that the future focus of the Employment Strategy is on developing a highly-skilled and flexible workforce. While the overall qualifications of NZ'ers has improved, the report points out that 10-17% of young people between 15-19 years of age are still not taking part in formal education, work or training. It is this group that will be the focus of the government's goal that, by 2007, they will all be engaged in education, training, or work. This change is reflected in the rewording and updating of the future goals of the Employment Strategy. The six former goals are now replaced by eight new ones: 1. Ensuring macroeconomic policies enable sustained economic growth and its accompanying job creation, 2. Promoting an "employment-rich, high productivity" economy, 3. Developing a flexible, highly-skilled workforce that is responsive to the needs of the labour market and an innovative economy, 4. Developing community capability as a source of employment opportunities, 5. Promoting a fair employment environment that enhances working relationships, 6&7. Improving participation in employment, earnings and the quality of employment for Maori, and Pacific peoples, 8. Improving participation in employment, earnings and the quality of employment for women, youth, mature workers, people with disabilities, and other groups at risk of long-term and persistent unemployment.
ENGLISH ON WELFARE REFORMEnglish says National would reverse the government's decision to scrap the work-test for people on the DPB and teenage mothers would be required to continue their education as an eligibility requirement of the DPB. He favours new sanctions for those who do not seek work or deliberately flunk work interviews and suggests that a lower level of benefit for those dodging their responsibilities may be the answer. National Party social welfare spokesperson Katherine Rich is clearly impressed with the 1996 American welfare reforms that put a time limit on benefits. Rich says that despite what critics say about the initiatives, US welfare numbers have dropped by 60% since the reforms were instituted. She claims that most of those people have gone into work and that child poverty and child hunger measurements in the United States have also dropped over the same period. Source — Speech by Bill English 13 march 2003 "Outline of Welfare Reforms" to Dunedin Business Group; National Party press release "National outlines welfare reforms"; Katherine Rich interview on National Radio's "Morning Report" 18 march 2003FIRST HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCEHargreave says a key factor is the increased disparity in income levels of New Zealanders. He describes the model of New Zealanders' income levels as having changed from being egg-shaped, with many earning good solid middle incomes, to an hour-glass shape with more people's incomes up and many more people's incomes down. This increase in the number of low-income families is reflected in a decreasing number of people who buy houses. The government says it will not go back to policies in which the state-owned Housing Corporation acted as a major lender to first homebuyers as it did through the mid 1980s. Acting Minister of Housing Steve Maharey says some options on the table are the government acting as guarantor for those with no collateral, and offering suspensory loans. Source — New Zealand Herald 06 March 2003 "Aid for home buyers likely" by Katherine Hoby and NZPA; The Daily News 06 March 2003 "First home buyers may get help" NZPA; The Dominion Post 06 March 2003 "First-home buyers may get state help" NZPACITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU YOUTH WEBSITE
Employment issues for New Zealand young people is a major focus of The Lowdown, a website hosted by the Citizens Advice Bureau.
The Lowdown, aimed at 12 25 year olds, offers
information on things like employment agreements, minimum pay, unions, obligations of the worker and their
employer, wages, holidays and harassment. The site also provides youth-focused information on consumer rights, tenancy, the police, and legal ages.
The Lowdown can be found at www.cab.org.nz/lowdown/index.html Source — Press release NZ Association of CAB 11 March 2003 "CAB launches youth website for Awareness Week 2003"
OZ CEOs WARN OF UNEMPLOYED UNDERCLASSThe Cost of Dropping Out, prepared by the Council says that over the past decade only 67% of students completed year 12. 21% of the young men who left school in Year 9 failed to find work, compared with 7% of Year 12 leavers. A massive 59% of females who left school in Year 9 were unable to find work. The Council chief executive Katie Lahey says that young people who drop out and don't go on to other training find it difficult to find employment and are sometimes condemned to a lifetime of social and economic hardship. Lahey: "It's a really important issue, not just from a business point of view but from a community point of view. The broader community pays through higher welfare costs, higher health costs, higher crime rates and other social impacts. And businesses face labour and skill shortages." The Cost of Dropping Out points out that the ongoing reduction of unskilled or low-skilled jobs in the job market continues to cut into the opportunities for early school leavers. Factors contributing to young people dropping out of school include living in rural areas, coming from a low socio-economic background, and having poor literacy and numeracy skills. Katie Lahey says a more co-ordinated response is required which included improved school programmes, better job and career advice, and better use of management and mentoring. — The Cost of Dropping Out (pub. Business Council of Australia, January 2003) can be downloaded (14pg, 255kb) from www.bca.com.au/upload/The_Cost_of_Dropping_Out.pdf Source — smh.com.au 30 January 2003 "Dropouts face life of poverty, say CEOs" by Roslyn Guy and AAP
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