National’s plan to randomly drug test jobseekers is
fundamentally wrong and unworkable and would put dangerous
additional pressure on MSD staff who have already been cut
back.
The policy says testing would be “integrated
into MSD’s work-readiness and employment planning”, starting
with 10,000 tests in the first year “with the programme
expanding”. It says this will be “funded from MSD
baselines”.
“This is populist rhetoric targeting the
most vulnerable and will pile more pressure onto MSD workers
who are already facing unacceptable levels of aggression and
violence,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga
Mahi.
“There is no thought for the impact on staff or
how it would work in practice. MSD case managers are there
to support people into work. This plan turns that into a
punitive relationship. Ordering drug tests and handing out
sanctions won’t build trust, and it won’t help anyone into a
job.
“It means more work for staff who have already
been cut back hard and under stress, with no new money to
pay for it. Every hour spent policing drug tests is an hour
taken away from helping people into work.
“Rushed
policy is already causing mistakes at MSD. We saw it
recently with the Winter Energy Payment. Stretched staff
have been left to clean up the mess, and the people relying
on those payments paid the price. Bolting on another poorly
thought-out scheme will only make that
worse.”
National’s policy leaves many questions
unanswered:
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What will 10,000 tests a year
really cost? National says $1.5 million a year,
about $150 a test, before second tests, assessments, admin
and sanctions.
What will be
tested? Will it be urine, or hair follicle testing
which costs more?
Who will do the
testing? Will it be contracted out, and is there
the capacity?
Will addiction support be
available? Addiction services already have long
waitlists, so who will carry out the “mandatory alcohol and
drug assessments”?
What will be cut to pay
for it? “Funded from MSD baselines” means taking
money from other services.
“This is bad policy that
won’t make a difference to outcomes, but like move on orders
this is more of the same from National – slogans over policy
that actually helps our most vulnerable,” said
Fitzsimons.
Background on drug
testing
Under current MSD rules, drug testing is done
by employers, for jobs that require it, and jobseekers can
be sanctioned if they fail or refuse. MSD does not record
how many tests are carried out. National’s policy would have
MSD itself order random tests of jobseekers, whether or not
they have been referred to a job.
About PSA
The Public Service
Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa
New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and
supporting more than 95,000 workers across central
government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health
boards and community
groups.
