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What jobs are there for beneficiaries?

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Paula Bennett

Paula Bennett

video
Tue, 23 Mar 2010 7:03p.m.

The Government is cracking down on benefit abuse – but how much benefit abuse there really is, it's hard to say.

The 345,000 adult New Zealanders who currently receive a benefit will increasingly be subjected to greater and greater scrutiny, beginning with those on the DPB and the dole.

But this announcement does come after December quarter figures showing unemployment at a 10-year high.

In January, well over 1000 people queued for hours to get jobs at a new supermarket in South Auckland - some of the jobs paying little better than the minimum adult wage.

These people clearly want work, so, it's all very well to tell beneficiaries to get jobs, but, what jobs do they get?

Campbell Live asks Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett.

Watch the video.

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Comments [61]

jack matthews
16 Sep 2011 12:19p.m.

what if your fat in todays society thats a no no, so you get stuck on a benefit, forget the fact that you have worked for 20 years previously

Dave
09 Jun 2010 4:33p.m.

Luke, you are an imbecile. Perhaps you could enlighten us with your ill-conceived argument that ALL beneficiaries are lazy by providing tangible evidence to support it. But since no such evidence actually exists, you haven't got a leg to stand on. The one irrefutable fact evident here is that you are a one-eyed bigot with the intelligence quotient of a grapefruit, so don't try to fight a war you cannot win.

MadGal
19 Apr 2010 2:14p.m.

I always wondered how could people be on benefit and advice WINZ they are single parent and every year produce a new baby so they dont have to work...

tim
15 Apr 2010 4:08p.m.

Hey, the beneficiaries who became so because of illness and disabilities are being cracked down by the Govt. They have become enemies of the sick and disabled and therefore the jobless of this country. This country is being made for the Rich and Well, not for the poor and the less advantaged. The Prime Minister who started his life in a Govt house in his young ages forgot himslef as he is now a millionnaire. This is just terrible and pathetic my friend.

C.Wood
29 Mar 2010 2:11p.m.

@willingtowork...It's aimed at those who have the time, the skills AND the ability to work. It's not designed to force people into work and if it is then it will undoubtedly FAIL. What are your skills, what are your committments? Put yourself to the test before anybody else does, that way you'll know exactly where you want your career to go and thus what jobs you'd be suited to.

C.Wood
29 Mar 2010 2:01p.m.

@luke. I resent ur attitude toward beneficiaries. Why? because it's exactly the same attitude that keeps the benefit cycle goin round and round like a broken record. People like you have no compassion whatsoever. I bet if you had your way you'd keep all beneficiaries locked in your basement like your "naughty" little children attitude that treats people not problems. I'm a beneficiary, but I am so much more than that you ignorant little so and so. You definitely don't have children do you? Try writing a 5000 word essay on "How society has shaped the way beneficiaries are viewed today". You're lucky your not my child, I'd make it 10,000 words. Grrrrrrrr........

willing to work
28 Mar 2010 9:52p.m.

ok?? for all the ones that think this new law is a good thing do you also agree with the fact that paula bennets other part to it is that sickness, unemployment and dpb beneficiaries be paid $1 per hour while they do this 15 to 29 hour working week. Or is that a case of slave labour and wouldnt that be discrimination considering the minimum wage is going to be $12.75. How would everyone like to be paid that?????????????

Blitz
28 Mar 2010 10:55a.m.

Everybody has issues in life some more than others. Focus on your own life and problems before pushing blame onto others. Sometimes others deserve the blame but they usually wont fix your problem. Fix the core issues then sort the small problems. Personally I think people should be more proactive in there decisions instead of reactive. It takes time and alot of hard work but its worth it.

Glocks
27 Mar 2010 12:40p.m.

@ Willing to Work - I am not unsympathetic to your situation, but you do raise a good point: Why DO certain people choose to overtly mutilate their bodies with tatoos, piercings, etc? I realise its a lot more common these days, but it does seem to be most prevalent among those at the lower end of the socio-economic ladder. For some people it may be a cultural thing, for others it may just be a way of giving society the big finger. Regardless, if you are going to use you body to make a statement, you must realise that people will be free to make judgements based on your apperance. I know if I was hiring somebody to deal with the public, I would be much less likely to give the job to a person with a face full of metal.

willing to wok
26 Mar 2010 5:08p.m.

@ luke Do you have kids????? prob not, cos if you did you would understand that you cant get them in the school gate till 830 then at the age 0f 5 they are pretty scared they cry etc, then by the time you drive to work, and if there are road works etc how is that my fault. good to hear that you would put everything else before your kids if you were in my situation. As i said i work part time so i pay secondary tax so i pay for my own benefit. have you ever had to pay secondary tax, nah prob not you probly had everything handed to you on a silver platter. When i resigned i had no income from winz for 12 weeks my mother supported me and my daughter not you or any tax payers just my mum on her partime wages. I could find my self a full time job i am capable of doing things i am not dumb my point with that was directed at the new law, where are the 43 thousand jobs coming from just for the single parents, but then u have the unemployment ones looking for work at the same time, are you going to open up a business and have them all work for you?????? I am not lazy i do a course 4 days aweek work 10 hours per week plus look after my m8s kid for free just so she can work, how about u walk in the shoes of a single parent for aweek so you can see how easy it isnt. Oh and as for comfortable lifestyle i am sleeping in my mothers dining room in her 2 bedroom house, i have no privacy, everyone can see where i sleep as soon as they walk in the house and mum had to lose her dining room just to help me out so how is that comfy for us.just cos you probly live in a flash house and are married with a family. Oh and as for not being forced into having children, when I was 19 i was told i could never have children as i have problems inside so when i found out i was pregnant i wasnt going to turn that chance down me and her dad were engaged but the males get it so easy they can walk away. I absolutly hate being on the benefit living on 260$ per week plus 80$ for my wages,i was paying 280 per week rent leaving 60$ for everything else um i dont see how that is comfy, but it is money to buy my daughter food. Would you hire some one who has facial tattoos, criminal convictions, children.Parents need to take time off when the child is sick, would you allow that. No as you said in your comment your job should come 1st ae people like you are the ones that would probly requre a benefit when u loose your job, or get made redundant, do you know single parents Luke ask them how easy it is to work, do homework with kids go to dr appmnts etc, when it just them and the child. And yes i would of resigned from my job either way as i am not going to be told i have to put my job before my child, any one who has kids would say family comes first, i feel sorry for your family with that attitude. Good luck in life luke hope you never have to rely on acc or the taxpayers, since you sound so onto it. Oh dont for get paula bennet was on a benefit aswell. and since your so onto it you would know that working for families threw ird is different to winz,

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