New Zealand mandates work seminars for Jobseeker beneficiaries

Beneficiaries of Jobseeker Support will now be required attend a work seminar as the government seeks to reduce "welfare dependency" in New Zealand.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston said those who will sign up for Jobseeker Support must now attend one Kōrero Mahi – Let's Talk Work seminar within a fortnight.

"These compulsory work seminars will make sure all new Jobseeker beneficiaries get the support they need and understand what's expected of them," Upston said in a statement.

"If they're ready to work, they could be helped to apply for a job. If they need re-training or upskilling, they could be referred to a programme that can help."

Those who do not attend without a good or sufficient reason could get sanctioned, according to the minister.

There are currently about 188,000 beneficiaries of Jobseeker Support, but only 53,000 of them have employment case managers, according to Upston.

"So, early intervention is required to make sure the others are taking steps towards finding work," she said.

Reducing welfare dependency

The new requirement comes as the government seeks to reduce beneficiaries of Jobseeker Support by 50,000 by 2030 after they ballooned under the previous administration.

"The number of people who have been on Jobseeker Support continuously for more than a year grew by about 40,000 under the previous government and under-25 are now projected to spend an of average 19 more years on a benefit," the minister said.

"We're not prepared to sit back and let welfare dependency get any worse, which is why we're intervening early to get job seekers on the pathway to work."

The new initiative adds to the government's steps in making the country's welfare system "more proactive," after it introduced new work check-ins for jobseekers after six months.