5 Thursday August 2010

Top Stories

Expenses spotlight will divert public interest from real issues

The Public Service Association (PSA) says publishing the credit card expenditure of public service chief executives will take attention from important issues and throw a harsh media spotlight on government employees.

"Rigorous processes around expenditure already exist across the public service," says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott. "Chief executives can only claim actual and reasonable expenses and all requests need to be supported with receipts.

Gender pay gap must be addressed

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) is deeply concerned by the recently released Quarterly Employment Survey showing an increase in the gender pay gap.

"It is extremely disappointing to see that we are moving backwards on the issue of pay equity," says NCWNZ National President, Elizabeth Bang.

Politics and Parliament

Training for beneficiaries to get better results

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce today announced changes to the Training Opportunities Programme (TOP's). TOPS training courses for beneficiaries are to be reconfigured to have a greater emphasis on getting people into work.

"I am committed to helping beneficiaries get the skills they need to help them get a job," says Ms Bennett. The Ministry of Social Development currently funds TOPS contracts which are 100 percent managed by the Tertiary Education Commission.

Read the Minister of Hosuing's Address to the Christchurch Housing Forum

Unemployment rate rises to 6.8 percent

There are 2,170,000 New Zealanders in work, but there are still officially 159,000 people looking for full or part time jobs. The official unemployment rate has risen from 6 percent to 6.8 percent since March, still down from the previous 7.1 percent unemployment rate in December.

"While the rate rose since the last quarter, it has decreased since last December," says Employment Minister Paula Bennett. "But the fact is, we still have too many people out of work and that's where our focus remains," says Ms Bennett.

Minister opens Victim Support Contact Centre

The new 24/7 Victim Support Contact Centre would get the right help to victims of crime, and get it to them faster, Police Minister Judith Collins said today.

Ms Collins joined Victim Support staff and volunteers, and Police to open the new Contact Centre at Police National Headquarters in Wellington.

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