Don't Force Mothers with Babies into Full Time Work!

SIngle mothers of one year old babies will have to do FULL TIME paid work if they have another child over 14 years, If National and Act get their way; -not just part time as the ninetonoon  radionz  commentators   believe. The  commentators of both "left" and "right" seem quite happy with a "carrot" and "Stick" approach to welfare! 

As if beneficiaries and mothers are not intelligent  and creative  human beings   who want to contribute to society however we  can- either by taking  paid work when it is actually available; or by doing the vital 24 hour per day (UNPAID!) work of caring for babies and children!

Using a stick to hit babies  is  a pernicious and unethical form of social engineering, which will not work.   Babies need their mothers, and second babies need them just as much as first babies do.  Meeting  attachment needs is vital for emotional well being and future social participation.  Mothering is work and should be valued and supported by society. Mothers are raising the future workers and tax payers who will support an increasingly elderly population.  Children are our Taonga. National's  policies are short sighted and cruel. Keeping children in poverty and denying them their bonding with their mothers breaches  the United Nations Rights of the Child .

 Also, National's approach will not work when there are no jobs. When there are jobs, beneficiaries take them, if they fit their families' and  and health needs.

As International Working Women's Day approaches (this Thursday March 8th) it is well to remember that Mothering Is Work, and should be valued and respected in our society.

Source:

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/27_Feb_Welfare_Reform_QandA.pdf

Sole Parent Support

This includes all those on the DPB and Widow’s Benefits with children under 14.Those receiving Sole Parent Support will be expected to look for part-time work when

their child is five years old and full-time when their child reaches the age of 14.

Those who have an additional child while on benefit will be exempted from work

expectations for 12 months, in line with parental leave provisions. Work obligations will

then revert to the age of the youngest child when the parent went on benefit.

For example, a beneficiary with a seven year old, who has another child, will return to a

part-time work expectation when their newborn turns one. A sole parent of a fourteen

year old who has another child will return to a full-time work expectation after one year.