362,400 people aged between 18 and 64 are on welfare benefits. (June 2010 figures). The Prime Minister, John Key, said today that if National is re-elected, there would be changes to the benefits. Sole parents who have children aged 14 and over will have to register for full-time work. Similarly, those people now on unemployment or sickness benefits will have to register for work. This could be part-time work if people are not able to work 40 hours a week.
Sole parents will have to register for part-time work when their youngest child is 5 years old. If a woman on a benefit has another child she will have to register for part-time work when that child is one year old.
Seriously ill people and those with serious disabilities will not be expected to work. They will receive a benefit.
The Leader of the Opposition, Phil Goff, said that there are not enough jobs. Labour instead would pay employers to train apprentices.
Vocabulary
welfare benefits – money paid by the government to people who do not have jobs.
National is the party of the government at the moment. The Labour Party is the Opposition.
sole parents are single parents, a mother or father who looks after children full-time
register – put their name down at the government department called Work and Income.
disability – a physical or intellectual ability which makes it difficult for someone to work
apprentices – people learning a trade like building, plumbing, hairdressing
Questions
1. Does your country have a welfare system?
2. How can government create more jobs?
3. Do you agree with these new benefit plans?