Older worker election promise
The government has honoured an election promise by including the $3,250 payment for employers who hire older workers in the budget update.
National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said: “The government has honoured an election promise by including the $3,250 payment for employers who hire older workers in the budget update.
“An investment in older workers is a commitment to productivity and a boost for the economy,” he said.
Research shows we’re missing out on at least $16.2 billion a year in not employing mature age people who want to, but can’t find, work.
However, Mr O’Neill warned the payment would not work on its own.
“With international experience showing these payments do not work in isolation, we’re keen to see the current suite of mature age worker measures strengthened.”
He also called on business to do their bit. “Just as Australia is open for business, we’d like to see business open for seniors.”
From 1 July 2014, the $3,250 Seniors Employment Incentive Payment will go to employers who hire a worker aged 50 plus who has been unemployed for six months. Fortnightly payments to employers will only commence after the job seeker has been employed for six months.
The Labor government’s $1,000 Jobs Bonus payment and the Mature Age Participation Job Seeker Assistance Program have been given the chop.
At an average of 75 weeks, the over-55s are likely to be unemployed more than twice as long as Australians aged 25 to 34 years.
