Jobs may go at IRD

As unemployment grows and the public sector looks to cut spending, jobs at the Inland Revenue are tipped to be the next to go.

Prime Minister John Key said as many as 18,000 more people may be unemployed than a year ago.

Just 117 jobs have been saved so far by the Government's nine-day fortnight scheme.

Several hundred jobs nationwide could go during restructuring of the Inland Revenue Department, The Dominion Post reported.

A department spokeswoman confirmed the restructuring but was not "in a position to say anything more as yet".

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said no final decision had been made.

Key said yesterday the Government promised more job-saving initiatives.

"There's quite an array of initiatives and you're going to see more announcements from us," he said.

"I'm very confident that when you look back in 18 months time at the initiatives that turned into real policies and commitments from the Government, they will be quite substantial."

- NZPA