Pacific Island unemployment remains twice the national average

Despite the staggering rise in unemployment generally, from 6 per cent to 6.8 percent over the last quarter, unemployment for Pacific people still remains twice as bad as the national average, says Labour's spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.

"Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today show that Pacific Island unemployment remains above 14 percent, although it has dropped marginally from 14.4 to 14.1 percent,” Winnie Laban said. “That adds up to 11,500 Pacific people out of work, and is a shocking statistic for this Government.

"When the unemployment rate for Pacific people climbed above 14 percent, I said that this staggering figure should shame the Government into action. Well, it clearly hasn't done that,” Winnie Laban said.

"It seems that nothing will make this Government take action on unemployment, and the most vulnerable people are those suffering the most.

"The Government has no credible plan to lift the economy and create jobs. Their much vaunted 'Job Summit' last year has fallen flat and nothing has replaced it.

"Unemployment should be the Government's number one priority, and Pacific unemployment should be the number one priority for the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs,” Winnie Laban said.

"That minister has said nothing about unemployment for months. Her silence and her Government's inaction are shameful. The hardworking Pacific community who have always contributed to New Zealand's economic and social identity deserve better. They want jobs.”

ENDS

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