Tightening the rules around benefit dependency would have a marked effect on Otago unemployment figures, Otago-Southland Employers Association chief executive John Scandrett said yesterday.
He was concerned that Central Otago employers were being forced to import workers to keep their operations viable because New Zealanders were reluctant to take on the work.
"We do need to remember that for the December quarter, the national unemployment level was 6.3% and that here in Otago it was 4.8%.
"But we need to think about this; close by in various parts of Otago, we are having to import Pacific Island workers to keep our horticulture, viticulture and some dairying operations viable.
"We're not talking about five workers down at that Cromwell orchard and six pruning vines over in Felton Rd. The numbers are well into the hundreds and could be as high as 500 to 600 at certain times of the year."
During the peak season, the composition of the Central Otago workforce showed that one of the region's major contractor worker providers could identify about 35% of workers as being permanent or casual New Zealanders, with the balance being made up of international backpackers or imported workers, Mr Scandrett said.
There was a case to say that in many situations, employment positions were available for locals if the extra push and effort was made. Consequently, tightening the rules on benefit dependency might, in many cases, provide the stimulus needed, he said.
Mr Scandrett called for a mature debate about the future of New Zealand's benefit system and hoped the issue could be debated without prejudice.
"Setting expectations around work - including the expectation that those who can work should do so - will do a lot to fight poverty."
He believed and supported the view that the measures the Government planned on welfare reform were aimed at pushing those who could work closer to becoming active on the job-search front.
Some people would be successful and others would fail.
However, he doubted that in genuine situations, anyone would come down too hard on a person who made the attempt to find a job and was unsuccessful.
In answer to the question of "where are the jobs?", Mr Scandrett said a more flexible and dynamic labour market would see more jobs created.
Over time, employment opportunities increased as job seekers became more skilled and work ready.
The worst thing any welfare system could do was to lock people into dependency, making it harder for them to find a job in the future.
But that was the current tragedy for many on benefits, he said.
Supporting people into employment with active case management, while expensive, was more compassionate and more likely to lead to success than just paying people benefits and forgetting them.
Business would support policies that led to more New Zealanders being able to work and contribute to the economic health of New Zealand, Mr Scandrett said.
