Paula Bennett has signalled a reform of the welfare system, and has begun implementing changes that reduce expenditure. Solo mothers – not fathers – with children over 6 yrs will be ‘encouraged’ to seek work. We have 160,000 unemployed in this country. Where are the jobs to come from? Are these measures designed to help the worst off in our society? Or is this a case of a cost-cutting exercise that targets so-called ‘long term’ beneficiaries so demonised in the media and by certain politicians? Research has shown that the majority of able-bodied beneficiaries do not stay dependent once jobs are available.

Thank God, everyone is not convinced by National’s need to placate Act. A group of concerned, mostly Christian, citizens has set up an Alternative Welfare Working Group, which starts from the same position as the official Working Party, but takes a very different path. Meetings are being held up and down the country, asking beneficiaries and unemployed people for their stories. I was fortunate enough to be present last Monday at the meeting in Wellington, where people spoke from their hearts of how they experience the system and the people who have to operate it. The Group members listened attentively and commented where necessary to clarify concerns. Each small group was asked to put forward three main concerns after sharing together. These stories will be collated and presented to Government in November, with recommendations for improving the system. This is surely a better way to involve people in planning their future, so that they are enabled to own the solutions. Do we take seriously the words of the Lord to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’? Or do we turn a blind eye when our pockets are threatened?

Dear Lord, we ask you to put a heart of flesh in place of our hearts of stone, so that we see your beloved sons and daughters in those who struggle with mental or physical ill health and lack of employment.

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1 Comment

Stephanie
Aug 30, 2010 8:32