P.E.P. reintroduction sought

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 5

P.E.P. reintroduction sought

The Waimalri District Council is to seek the reintroduction bf the P.E.P. scheme. The Community Affairs Committee decided yesterday to forward a remit to next week’s South Island Local Bodies Association Conference, that the association support employment promotion in general, and the reintroduction of the P.E.P. scheme in particular. The suggestion came from Cr Patrick Harrow, during discussion on the council’s Access training

programme. Access, which gives training but not jobs, has replaced P.E.P. and other subsidised work programmes. Training was “all very well,” but jobs were needed because people with nothing to do could lose the habit of working, Cr Harrow said. The District Chairwoman, Mrs Margaret Murray, said that she could not speak too highly of the P.E.P. scheme. Waimalri had . been able to cope with it administratively; P.E.P. had been discredited because other

councils' could not, she said. Waimalri is the only local council running Access courses, which Mrs Murray said was “slightly alarming.” Waimalri was taking the lead, and now had to take the lead in the next step — making sure it resulted in employment, she said. It was “vital” that tabs be kept on the success rate, in terms of young people getting jobs relevant to their training, said Mrs Murray. The committee was told

that six of the first 12 trainees to complete one of Waimairi’s Access courses now had jobs. Another four had gone into further training. The council has received approval to set up another five courses. The committee will also seek ways to promote employment In the district It decided to seek a special meeting with a representative of the Papanui office of the Department of Labour to investigate ways the council can become involved.