Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will encourage the training of managers and supervisors by removing limits
on Industry Training above level 4.
This will help drive better management practise and help employers to utilise the skills of
their workforce more productively.
Labour will ensure unions are represented on ITO boards so workers have a voice in
the development of industries skills strategies.
Under Labour, the government as employer will be committed to the training and up-skilling
of staff, in order to develop skilled workers for the economy and set an example of positive
training investment. As part of its own „good employer‟ requirements, the Government will
also provide comprehensive training opportunities throughout its own workforce.
Labour will require companies providing goods and services to the government to
have an apprenticeship/internship programme in place for New Zealand workers.
Skill shortages threaten growth
New Zealand currently faces skills shortages in a number of sectors, for instance the
building and construction industry will require 77,000 new workers over the next five years. A
lack of skilled staff will hold back businesses and our economy.
That this is occurring at the same time as high unemployment is absurd. We lack essential
knowledge about the challenges facing the New Zealand labour market and a coherent
strategy to provide for the skills we need across all industries now and in the future.
Not only do we need to invest upfront in skills training to avoid shortages but we need to
improve communication between employers, training organisations, unions and young
people to ensure that people are learning the right skills for the future needs of our economy.
Labour will, through the New Zealand Employment and Skills Strategy, capture new
areas of high employment/skills demand, and ensure we are prepared to meet these
needs.
Labour will increase the spread of apprentices across all relevant sectors of the
economy and increase the number of successful completions of apprenticeships.
This includes promoting the advantages of apprenticeships, assistance in finding
apprentices and apprenticeships, and mentoring and support (pastoral care) for apprentices.
Labour will encourage more women into apprenticeships in the traditional trades
sector and the development of more apprenticeships in non-trade sectors such as
aged care.
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