Socialists oppose $10 a week jobs

Socialists oppose $10 a week jobs

"The government's white paper does not create any permanent jobs. Instead, it hands billions of dollars to business. This is a direct transfer of social security payments into the pockets of employers", says Democratic Socialist Party spokesperson Dick Nichols.

"Many companies will hire workers at the bargain basement price of $10 a week, but many permanent full-time jobs will be sacrificed in the process. Ultimately the government's approach will put downward pressure on all wages.

"The benefit to business of a pool of unemployed workers lies in the pressure it puts on the existing work force to accept lower wages. This function is diminished if the unemployed have been out of work for too long and are no longer 'employable'. The strategy of the white paper is to correct this — not to create real jobs.

Nichols said the new "training wage" extended youth wages to embrace all the unemployed. Eventually, the 80% of award rate would apply to all workers taking up new jobs.

"For the Labor government the white paper gives the impression of doing something about unemployment while it sits on its hands. Once again the hapless federal opposition is left crying: stop thief!, as Labor runs off with yet another of its policies."

From GLW issue 142