10 Aug 2018

Mana in Mahi not enough to fix skill shortage - trainers

From Morning Report, 7:49 am on 10 August 2018

The new scheme aimed at getting thousands of young beneficiaires into work is being criticised for not going far enough to fix New Zealand's dire labour skill shortage. The government's Mana in Mahi project launched on Thursday - it's aimed at 18-24-year-olds who have been on a benefit for six months or more. The income equivalent of the person's benefit will be paid to the employer who is expected to top that up to at least the minimum wage. Josh Williams is the chief executive of the Industry Training Federation. He tells Susie Ferguson that if teachers are getting paid, so should employers who give skills to apprentices in the much-needed trades.