Bennett defends jobs scheme

The Minister of Social Development is defending the Government's Job Ops Scheme.

Labour claims the policy is not working the way it was intended and is not creating new positions for young people. MP Annette King cites the case of employers who have taken advantage of the $5,000 subsidy, despite having planned to employ another worker anyway.

But Paula Bennett says she is not surprised Mrs King does not understand what innovative thinking looks like. She says in the three weeks since Job Ops was set up, more than 500 work opportunities have been created for young people.

- Newstalk ZB