Brown: "It starts not with pump-priming, but prudence. Not dashes for growth but discipline. Not free-for-all but responsibility. Not rejection of change but a more flexible welfare state and labour market..."

Source The Dominion 1 October 1997 "Jobs for all but a set-back for Blair" Reuter

The plan for the 35-hour week is due to become legally obligatory in all workplaces of more than 10 employees on 1st January 2000. The government also says that social security tax breaks will be provided to companies that reduce their work week.

The French measures however have already had an impact on the labour movement internationally, giving rise to renewed demands for cutting hours in a number of countries, particularly in Italy.

Sources Reuters, Greg Oxley, Syndicat du Commerce de Paris. Parti Socialiste, Val de Marne. and Gary Johnston, BraveNewWorkWorld website

Has the process been mired in departmental "patch-protection" ? McCardle: "No, not at all. There are many models and options being considered and it's about ensuring the best options are chosen to deliver the outcomes. This involves detailed and thorough consideration because this is a huge reform ..."

What sort of people is McCardle looking for? He says he is not making any judgements as to whether the people will come from within current government bureaucracies, or from outside. The skills needed: good community connections and networks; a thorough knowledge of local labour market and economic conditions; experience in managing substantial budgets; a proven ability to manage staff functions, and to deliver on outcomes. Look for advertisements for the Commissioner positions in the new year.

McCardle: "These groups have a part to play in the transition to the new Regional Committees. The rationale for setting up the LECs in the first place was to get a greater level of co-ordination amongst government agencies, and they were proposed by the Employment Taskforce. The responsibilities of the Regional Employment Committees will be much greater... they will have a wider brief in terms of looking at the overall strategic direction of employment-related activities and advising Commissioners on the best use of their devolved resources..."

Source Interview by Vivian Hutchinson through Liz Reid, spokesperson for Peter McCardle 31 October 1997

The paper shows some interesting figures: according to Scully, a 1% tax increase has the effect of cutting labour force participation by 0.43% or 11,900 potential workers. He calculates that the loss of these workers translates into a loss of $639.8m in output, and $219m in taxes. The same 1% increase in tax lowers employment growth by 2.6% or over 42,000 workers, and increases the unemployment rate by 8.7% or about 15,900 people.

Source The Dominion 29 October 1997 "Higher taxes limit jobs paper" by NZPA

A similar survey has just been completed by Britain's National Statistics Office. The Office found that men and women spend about 1½ times more of their day in unpaid work than paid work, and that women carry out about 1½ times more unpaid work than men.

The Statistics Office: " Everytime a person digs the garden or goes to the supermarket or does the washing up, this is work, just as surely as agricultural labouring, serving hamburgers or working in a hotel. The difference is that people are not paid for the first three ..."

The survey found that the "household sector" is bigger than any industry in economic terms. If it were given a monetary value it would be worth up to 120% of the gross national product.

Source The Dominion 2 October 1997 "Unpaid work study" and The Times 10 October 1997 "Men sleep less, spend more time eating study"

(Financial Times)

Ginsberg says that attention in interviews is shifting away from CV's or resumes. Behavior-based interviews try to elicit examples of skills that are pertinent to openings. The candidates are then asked to relate specific situations from their past work experience. The theory is that when people give real examples, the employer learns more about what the candidate is really capable of doing.

For a job requiring a great deal of leadership, for example, companies will ask candidates to talk about a time when they were required to lead, and explain the results. Aside from providing a telling self-portrait, the tactic can bring up questions or points the interviewer would not have otherwise considered.

Fein offers advice to a job candidate: "In examples such as these, it is important to not blame the person or situation. Criticism and pressure are inherent parts of the workplace and the company you're interviewing with should understand that. The best answer acknowledges these factors and shows that you learned from the experience..."

Source The Washington Post September 21, 1997 "Trying to Put Job Candidates at Their Ease " `Behavior-Based' Interviewing Attempts to Get Applicants to Paint Their Own Revealing Self-Portrait, By Steven Ginsberg

Source conference brochure

Pearce has been working in the field of Community Enterprise since 1965, in the UK and overseas. He has developed a social auditing methodology for community and co-operative enterprises which has been used widely by local economic development practitioners. This seminar is being run by COMMACT Aotearoa, a local chapter of a Commonwealth-wide NGO working for local action on economic development. Costs $15 (registration essential). Enquiries to Box 423, Auckland or Sue and Bill Bradford 09-302-2496.

Source seminar brochure

They will look at the government's proposed Code of Social Responsibility and related issues of workfare and welfare reform, housing, health, unemployment and poverty in NZ. They expect to provoke a high level of debate from both academic and practitioner perspectives. Costs are on a sliding scale from $20 (unwaged/low income) to $130 (govt depts, private sector). Enquiries: Social Responsibility Conference, P.O.Box 3813, Auckland, or email at auwrc@ihug.co.nz

Look for: A major conference from this same group on "getting Employment back on the agenda"... probably also in Auckland in August next year.

Source brochure from Social Responsibility Conference, October 1997

The conference will focus on the implementation of a Basic Income for all citizens in New Zealand, and how the UBI concept will encourage economic participation and be socially sustainable. Expect also: debates about the future of welfare in NZ; the coincident rise of over-employment and under-employment; and the merits of targeting versus universality, rights and responsibilities, higher versus lower taxes. Offers of papers and workshops are being sought from community workers, researchers and analysts. Contact: the Conference Organisers, UBINZ, c/- Private Bag 11 042, Palmerston North, fax 06 350 6319, by 15 December 1997.

Source from UBI National Network