Working has to be a lot better than being on the dole. Right? Motivation, future direction and ‘career’ all come into the picture for our young people’s tomorrow.

And while working they are entitled to be paid a reasonable wage for their efforts.

However, the announcement this morning by Kate Wilkinson, Labour Minister that 16-19 year olds will get $10 an hour is a huge joke for the obvious reasons: throwing our youth onto a cheap labour pool and secondly providing them with greater incentives to move to Australia.

It is very hard to figure out who in this government has a grip on job creation, incentives for job creation and the future of manufacturing in this country.

On Friday there is a gathering, called for by the EPMU to talk about the urgency facing the jobs market. Why has this taken so long to organise? Where are the jobs going to come from?

There are large numbers of young people unemployed – just look to the Waikato if you want to ask about the ‘lost generation’. They need jobs and a living wage not a special government works approach to their future.

-Doug Green