Council attempt at creating more jobs

Press, 18 November 1981, Page 19

Council attempt at creating more jobs

This year, the Christchurch City Council has set up a "Job Creation Working Party" to assist in alleviating the unemployment problem by employing as many people as possible within the council under the various Department of Labour subsidised work and training schemes.

It is also assisting community organisations to take advantage of the Department of Labour’s subsidised work schemes by providing bridging finance', technical support and management services where necessary. Where possible, the Job Creation Working Party aims to create long-term employment opportunities by setting up and assisting work trusts and promoting the establishment of small businesses and the expansion of existing businesses.

Additional training and work schemes are being designed to assist people not specifically catered for under the Government’s Job Creation Schemes. Basically, the council’s contribution has been centred around three programmes: The Council's Community Assistance Programme. The Job Creation Team

had, up until the end of July, 1981, processed about 168 community projects. More than 35 per cent of these have been approved by the Department of Labour, 35 per cent are awaiting approval, and the remainder have not been approved or require further investigation. Council Additional Job Training Employment Programmes At the end of October, 1981, about 455 people were employed in various job training appointments within the council and another 398 appointments were waiting to be filled. Appointments included mainly those people employed under the Government’s Project Employment Programme scheme, which allows for job opportunities for up to six months.

Council Job Skills Training Programme The Christchurch City Council has introduced an inhouse, Job Skills Training Programme, fully subsidised by the Department of Labour to cater predominantly for school leavers with School Certificate and University Entrance who, because of these qualifications, were previously classed as jobready by the Department of Labour and not eligible for

the Government’s "Work Skills Development Programme.” A committee comprising of representatives from Government departments, service organisations, the trading banks and the Christchurch City Council is being formed to assist people to establish themselves in small businesses and also to assist in the expansion of existing businesses. It is intended that the Christchurch City Council will be the catalyst in assisting people to prepare an acceptable working plan for the business in which they intend to pursue.

Counsellors will be available on a voluntary basis to advise and assist them in doing this The Christchurch City Council’s support for small businesses is also reflected in the display of the Mobil Export Award winners in the display window in the Civic Offices, in Tuam Street from november 1(1 to December 27, 1981: First Prize: Tait Electronics

Second Prize: Marguerite Leather Wear, Ltd. Third Prize: P. and D. Duncan, Ltd. and Temuka Ware.