Work and Employment - Policy Summary

Read the Work and Employment Policy.

Key Principles

• The ability to participate in the paid workforce is essential for self esteem, physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and for a sense of contributing to society.
• The Green Party is committed to full employment with dignity and a living income, and rejects the idea that economic stability requires either a significant level of unemployment or a low level of protection for those in the paid workforce.
• Everyone needs time to relax, pursue personal interests, and nurture their family and friendships.
• We value the dignity and worth of volunteering and of the work involved in nurturing children and other dependents.

Specific Policy Points

• Improve the ways we measure paid and unpaid work and unemployment so that we can gain a more accurate picture of what's going on.
• Establish a high-level commission into the future of work.
• Increase the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour and ensure it cannot fall below 66% of the average wage.
• Shift tax from work and enterprise onto pollution and wasted resources.
• Ensure government policy recognises the contribution of unpaid work to society and the economy, including the work of parents and caregivers.
• A greater commitment to proactive job creation, including more public sector support for self-employment, small businesses, co-operative and community-owned enterprises, and for employment resource centres and agencies that train and support people going into business.
• Expand the apprenticeship programme.
• Greater availability of bridging courses for immigrants in professions that New Zealand needs.
• Promote and ensure equal opportunities and pay equity.
• More resources for vocational advice and employment support, including for women, Maori and Pacific Island peoples, disabled and other statistically lower-paid groups.
• Access to careers advice and job search support for all registered unemployed (and other beneficiaries should they so choose) as soon as they register as jobseekers.