Solving Employment Issues by Coalition Government in New Zealand - Essay Example

? Solving Employment Issues by Coalition Government in New Zealand Solving the Employment Issues by Coalition Government in New Zealand Introduction Coalition governments do comprise different parties that come together for the formation of a government, and the members of the parties therefore commit to work together as a unit and to drive the agenda of the government together. In this case, it is realized that the individual parties have different policies on how to deal with certain issues of the economy including wealth creation, how to deal with the issues of employment, and other economic issues in the country, like agriculture, industrial growth, taxation, and health policies. Different political parties therefore do have different frameworks of handling these different policies and when they come together to work, they have to rationalize the different policies that they have, to come to a binding and conclusive policy paper that clearly articulates how to deal with the issues (Spoonley, Dupuis, and Bruin, 2006). In the rationalization of the policies, there are likely to be challenges that are faced by the parties since the ideological beliefs of the parties may not be flexible to alter. The party’s secretariats have to therefore exercise tolerance and allow the give and take principle to take precedence so that a conclusion can be reached. In the case of New Zealand, the possibility of the Green party and Labour party coming together for a coalition must definitely show its strengths as well as the weaknesses in dealing with the issue of employment and unemployment in the country. Thus, this paper looks at the different positions held by the two political parties ha and how they will work for and against them in case they form a coalition government, and is biased to the issues of unemployment among youths in the country. Ideological Positions of the Parties on Employment Matters An ideology in the political environment is defined as a set of political thoughts that guides and determines policies and political action. Political ideologies are not accepted by all the people of every nation and this is even seen in the individual political parties. In this case, the Green and the Labour party have different political ideologies concerning matters relating to employment and unemployment issues. Ideological References of the Green Party The Green party has shown consistent approach to the issues that relates to employment. In their policies, they can be rated to have those policies that appeal to those who are employed. For instance, from 1999, the party has conceived policies for the betterment of the employees (Steve, 2010). They repeal the ECA payment equity for the women in the country. They also made proposal to extend the parental leave progressively form 12 weeks by 1999 to 14 weeks by 2011. The party has also proposed the minimum annual leave to be 4 weeks and have maintained the position to date. The reduced working hours in a week has also been an issue that is critically looked into by the party and maintained it to 35 hours in a week (Auston, 2008). In a very controversial way, the party has also encouraged child employment but maintained that the environment for such employees be safe. Above all, the party has throughout maintained that workers must be supported through their cooperatives; the party has then supported the workers through their cooperatives. They have also worked for the review of the ERA and in that sense, they have supported industrial democracy, employment, and pay equity (Auston, 2008). They have also supported the views of collective bargaining coupled with the balance of wages and life as well as job security. The contribution of the party to the issues of industrial relations has been manifested by the party and it can be attested that it holds a strong position for the employed and wants to better their condition of life. Ideological References of the Labour Party The industrial relation policies of the Labour party are not as comprehensive as that of the Greens party, although it supports some of the terms for employees, like the collective bargaining as is the case with Greens. It fails to address other fundamental areas that relates to the employees. “Their proposed minimum wage is $15 and the party does subscribes to the idea of workers unionism and sympathy workers” (Boston, 2005).One of the most difference issues that stand out in their policies of the industrial relation is their proposal that they do not allow for the replacement of the striking workers. Given the different ideological preferences of the parties, it has to be appreciated that they have fundamental differences that needs a lot of rationalization for the existence of the parties in a coalition. Possible conflicts that Might Occur in Implementing Employment Policies by the Greens and Labour Parties Therefore, it is notable that there are fundamental differences in the way the two parties are planning to deal with issues that relates to employment in the country. A case in point here is where the Labour party proposes a minimum wage of $15 while the Green party only proposes a minimum wage without specification. The issue here is, what economic policies have the parties considered to come to such conclusions in terms of the minimum wage. In rationalizing these wage issues, certain economic aspects will have to be considered for review otherwise, there will be no conclusive issues reached. “These tasks may sound tedious and may jeopardize the efforts to integrate policies of the different parties in a proper manner” (Boston, 2005). How the political parties react to the workers union is also different. The Labour party hold the view that the unions of the workers should be compulsory while the Greens hold the contrary opinion over the same. Workers form a significant part of the population to the government in terms of tax payment; hence, the government should also then accept the requirement of the workers and address their grievances so that they can allow for the satisfaction of both the parties (Danford, 2007). In this case, one of the parties in the coalition government will be strongly rooting for the grievances of the workers while the other remains hesitant to the issue. This may form a recipe for divergent opinions over the issue. Following the provision of the two parties with regard to the employed, it is possible that there can be a problem in implementing policies in relating them to the workers. It is therefore possible that implementing such policies will be difficult if none of the parties is willing to cede grounds on the best way forward in dealing with the issues of the workers. It is therefore important that there should be a thorough integration process of the two parties so that the coalition of the two parties can be run on policies that are approved by both. This is so important because already the two parties hold different views in relation to the same fundamental issue (Danford, 2007). Policies for reducing the rate of Unemployment in New Zealand Every government has the moral obligation to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country as a way of improving the economy and the living standards of the employees in the country. Most countries have set the limits of tolerance for unemployment and the government in place must ensure at all the times that the standards are maintained. One way of dealing with the problem is opening new frontiers for employment, which may include attracting new investors in the country. This should specifically target the youths since they constitute the population with future prospect. If there is a coalition of the two parties, they should work on policies that ensure that the youths are integrated in the employment scale just as it is for any other population group (Heyman, 2005). Youth unemployment can only be mitigated through policies that not only recognize them but also ensure that there are economic openings in the country that will assure that new employment frontiers are opened in the country in terms of industrial development and economic growth. It is also important that the government design education policies that will keep the young population in school for the longest time possible, a period that they are supposed to be endowed with the useful skills that will enable them to earn a living after school (Rudman, 2009). This program will ensure that youths are skilfully trained as they are hoarded in school for an extended period so that they do not remain in the society and at the same time are unemployed, and this makes the issue of unemployment to be palpable. The government should first ensure that the youths are equipped with the necessary skills that are relevant in the today’s employment market. In the case that this is realized, it is possible then that the government can put in place a policy that encourages foreign investors in the country so that new opportunities can be created in the country (Miller 2005). In the same time, the government should ensure that the existing industries are involved in an agreement to employ the youths as a way of necessitating transition of the work power and skills transfer to the youths in the country. Strong policies that define for the works sharing policies should be highly encouraged in the country to allow for sharing of the available work in the workplaces. This system should be looked into in different ways, which includes sharing the available working hours among the old and the youths so that the work hours for the current employees are reduced to allow for the absorption of the youths into the employment. In this programme, the overtime work for the current employees should also be given to other people who are the youths to engage them in employment and to contain the situation of unemployment. Early retirement can also be looked into as an option of curbing the unemployment rate in the country (Miller 2005). This policy is likely to create several employment opportunities annually for the youths who are currently unemployed in the country. The issue to recognize youth as entrepreneurs is very important in the economy. The youth should be given an opportunity by the government to exercise self-employment through the provision of grants and loans for business. The youths should also be recognized in the government procurement process and be given a percentage through which youths with registered enterprises can take part in the supplies of some of the materials that are required by the government or those tenders that are given by the government (Milne, 2008). This policy will ensure that even if the unemployment of the youths still stands at some worrying percentage, they will have something to aim for and contribute to in the economy if they are given the opportunity to participate in government tenders. These initiatives have been used in other countries where the government enacts through the act of parliament the need to recognize youths in such economic issues. Concerning the work sharing policy, the issue of part time employment should also be created by taking hours from the already existing workers and be given to the totally unemployed in the country so that all can be inclusive in the area of employment. This shift in the program of employment can best work in the country as there will be a rotational effect of the employment so that all are able to acquire income ultimately (Mulgan and Aimer, 2007). The combined effort in sharing of work is a simple way of ensuring that every youth in the country after skilful training has some place for engagement even before the actual employment. In conclusion, unemployment is an indicator of how the economy of a country is not supportive of the citizens in terms of catering for their needs that come with employment or engagement in the income generating activities. When the unemployment rate keeps on increasing, the government in place has a reason to worry and to look for viable measures of ensuring that the unaccepted trend is reversed through sound economic policies that will ensure an amicable solution of the problem. The New Zealand coalition government of the Labour party and the Green party has a duty to use all that is in their disposal to retain the current workforce and provide more employment opportunities and reduce the situation of unemployment. References Auston, D. 2008. New Zealand Company Laws and Regulations Handbook. 2007: Intl Business Pubns USA,. Boston, J.2005New Zealand under MMP: a new politics?. Auckland: Auckland University Press :,. Danford, T. 2007. Essential New Zealand employment legislation. Ed. 2. ed. Auckland [N.Z.: CCH New Zealand,. Heyman, D. 2005. BUG New Zealand. 2nd ed. Kilcunda, Vic.: BUG Backpackers Guide,. Miller, R.2005.Party politics in New Zealand. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press. 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