Response to jobathon likely from small firms

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 8

Response to jobathon likely from small firms

Jobathon, the special Telethon project to provide jobs for unemployed young people, will run in more than 50 towns and cities throughout New Zealand. The national coordinator, Mr John Meeuwsen, assistant director (development) of the Labour Department’s Employment Service, is arranging for jobathon telephones be staffed by volunteers for the 24 hours of Telethon from 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 29. During that time, employers will be able to telephone in details of vacancies which will be

followed up later by the department. With the assistance of the Employment Action Business Alliance, employers, manufacturers, farmers, and retailers thoughout New Zealand will be alerted. “Most jobs will probably be offered by smaller firms whose heads may not have got round to registering vacancies with the Labour Department,” says the Telethon organiser, Mr Don Hutchings. “Primarily we are seeking permanent jobs, not those subject to Government subsidy. The hope is

that apart from putting young people in work, jobathon will also save the country in benefit payments.” Mr Hutchings says it is not intended to parade unemployed people before the Telethon cameras. “We are not out to humiliate people but to raise jobs. It’s a serious approach to a serious problem and a very positive way to use the resources of Telethon.” Jobathon would form only a small part of the actual Telethon programme, and not all employers would be acknowledged on air.