Young people to stay in school, National employment policy

National would ensure that all young people stayed in school until they had well-developed plans for their future, the party said today when it announced its employment policy.

Employment spokesman Bob Simcock said far too many young people were going from school to a life on welfare, and there were far too many skilled and motivated people over 40 being discarded by employers.

"We will work with employers to change the attitudes that are keeping older workers out of employment and we will require the Department of Work and Income (DWI) to develop specialist services for unemployed mature people," Mr Simcock said.

"National believes that welfare should not be a one-way street -- instead there must be mutual responsibilities.

"National will give DWI the power to require unemployed people to do community work where that will help restore work disciplines."

He said economic growth alone would not produce jobs for people who lacked basic employment skills.

"We must invest whatever it takes to help people gain the skills they need to get employment, and in return we must expect people to support themselves where they are able to."

Employment Minister Steve Maharey said the police was just rhetoric and would not create a single new job.

"Talking tough about welfare is the kind of tub-thumping populist politics Bob Simcock has been forced to retreat to because he doesn't have any new ideas," he said.

- NZPA