Ricardo Menendez-March: Welfare sanctions "punishing unemployed people"

Update: 2025-10-19

Description

From tomorrow, beneficiaries will need to comply with two more obligations to continue receiving welfare.

They will need to provide evidence of at least three job searches a week for four weeks, and attend employment-related training courses for at least five hours a week for four weeks.

The sanctions are aimed at increasing employability, but critics think it's punishing beneficiaries for being out of work.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comments

In Channel

Dr Luke Bradford: GP clinic loans "a part of the solution"

2025-11-3010:57

Simon Watts: New Zealand on the right path for climate change

2025-11-2313:43

Rupert Carlyon: KiwiSaver changes would be a step in the right direction

2025-11-2313:17

Mark Mitchell: Frontline cops furious over McSkimming scandal

2025-11-1613:45

Kate Acland: U.S. removes 15% tariff on NZ beef exports

2025-11-1609:35

Aaron Hendry: Rough sleeper ban would do more harm

2025-11-0908:00

Paul Goldsmith: Meth importers a "good place to start"

2025-11-0914:58

Simeon Brown: Modular wards aren't ideal, but we need the beds

2025-11-0210:51

Geoffrey Miller: "APEC/ASEAN was a win for NZ"

2025-11-0213:58

Fleur Fitzsimons: Healthcare workers aren't asking for much

2025-10-2612:08

Stephen Hoadley: Here's what we can expect from APEC

2025-10-2613:55

Chris Abercrombie: Palestine first on the agenda in pay dispute meeting with govt

2025-10-1910:31

Ricardo Menendez-March: Welfare sanctions "punishing unemployed people"

2025-10-1911:19

David Seymour: Maori wards are unfair

2025-10-1212:24

Louise Upston: Social Development Minister talks new parental assistance test and new incentive to stay in work

2025-10-0508:53

Simeon Brown: Health Minister talks lowering of bowel cancer screening age

2025-10-0514:54

No State of Palestine: Experts critique the Government's decision

2025-09-2826:51

Geoffrey Miller: Foreign minister likely to discuss conditions for Palestine

2025-09-2114:24

Simeon Brown: Addressing the small-scale issues with $100m hospital boost

2025-09-2111:30

Viv Beck: New tourism funding boost will be a game changer

2025-09-1409:53

00:00

1.0x

Ricardo Menendez-March: Welfare sanctions "punishing unemployed people"

#box-pro-ellipsis-176490273045633{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}Ricardo Menendez-March: Welfare sanctions "punishing unemployed people"

Ricardo Menendez-March: Welfare sanctions "punishing unemployed people"

Newstalk ZB

Ricardo Menendez-March: Welfare sanctions "punishing unemployed people"