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Source: ONE News -
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The government has floated a nine-day working fortnight at the job summit.
Two hundred government, business and union leaders are currently huddled at the summit in Manukau to discuss practical initiatives to stimulate employment.
Deputy political editor Fran Mold says various ideas have been discussed, including a nine-day working fortnight.
Under the proposal employers would pay for nine days, and the government would pay the tenth, with the proviso that under-worked employees use the tenth day for training or community work.
Leading up to the summit, the government had suggested a four-day week in which it would partially subsidise the fifth day, seeing it as an opportunity to upskill workers and ease the financial burden on employers.
However, while the idea garnered some industry support, others said businesses would not be able to afford to contribute to a fifth non-working day.
It is understood that the nine-day fortnight would be limited to specific industries and companies facing a downturn in work.
There has been a suggested cap of $80 million for coverage of up to 20,000 workers.
Another idea the government has shown interest in funding is a cycleway from Kaitaia to Bluff.
The project would provide around 3,700 jobs and would cost around $50 million over the next two years.
Also floated have been interest-free loans of $10,000 to new house buyers; government-funded crisis managers to help companies in strife; a fund from the sale of government bonds to add liquidity to the consumer finance market; and tax holidays for struggling businesses.
Summit chairman Mark Weldon says ideas have to both create jobs and increase economic activity, and have an impact within two years or sooner.
Senior ministers say they have been impressed by the enthusiasm
and effort being put in by those at the summit.
TVNZ will have comprehensive coverage of the Jobs Summit with live coverage of the event on TVNZ7 and TVNZ.co.nz, as well as reports throughout the day from TVNZ reporters on site.
