The first reading of the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill 2012 was passed passed by Parliament on Tuesday 27 March.
The Wellington Archdiocesan Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development Commission has expressed concern about the government’s welfare reform package with a particular focus on 3 areas:
1. Legislation and social policy that devalues the role of parents as care providers
2. The narrow focus on “work” as “paid employment”
3. Youth training being taken out of the education system and placed in the hands of private providers.
Mrs Homan said the Commission was deeply concerned that at a time when current tax policy has given more money to the better off in our society, those most economically and socially vulnerable are being ever more controlled. “The possibility of gainful employment and the importance of work are central concerns of Catholic Social Teaching but so is the safeguarding of the family unit.”
The bill is designed to reduce the number of young people on welfare benefits and toughen up work tests for sole parents .
It also establishes a new work test obligation for women on the widow’s benefit or on the woman alone benefit.
Other laws will be changed to allow Government departments to track young people at risk of becoming dependent on welfare, said Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett.
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