News release from the Alliance party.

Maori unemployment reduces during Labour Alliance coalition

Immediate Release 04 October 2001

Mana Motuhake Leader and Alliance MP, Willie Jackson welcomes recent reductions in Maori unemployment. He raises concerns that casualisation of the Maori workforce still needs to be monitored.

The Department of Labour briefed the Maori Affairs Select Committee on Maori unemployment this morning.

"It is great to see that Maori unemployment reduced from 17.8% in June 1998 to 11.9% in June 2001. That's a win for Maori under this coalition government.

"The casualisation of the workforce which occurred under the Employment Contracts Act (ECA) is still of concern though and I will be monitoring this closely. The ECA meant many Maori ended up working in jobs without much security and fewer hours of work. I will be following up our progress on this but note that it is good to see that there has been growth in full time employment recently.

"I am keen to see Maori move into secure and well paid jobs and I support the Department of Labour in their conclusion that we must work on these key areas of: sustainability of employment, skills, local opportunities and service delivery," said Willie Jackson MP.

ENDS

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