Labour’s big ideas

The Labour Party has announced 10 Big Ideas as part of its Future of Work conference held in Auckland this week, with technology playing a big role.

Labour's Future of Work Commission Chair Grant Robertson says the ideas are designed to help shape the party's policy development.

"The Future of Work has struck a chord with workers, business and the wider public. There has been a lot of feedback on our discussion papers with some great ideas coming forward," Robertson says.

"With 46% of jobs set to disappear in coming decades it's no wonder people are getting involved," he says.

"We've pulled the consultation together into Ten Big Ideas that give a snapshot of the ideas and thinking of the Commission so far.

Robertson says, "The big themes to emerge during the first year of the Commission's work will be further developed into specific policies to endure decent work and income security in a rapidly changing world.

The Ten Big Ideas are:

1. Building digital equality – through ensuring Kiwis can access technology regardless of where they live or how wealthy they are.

2. Accelerating technology in business – through developing new models of capital raising and investing in research and development.

3. Developing Business Clusters – by creating regional partnerships of business, councils, research organisations and iwi to get the best out of local and emerging industries.

4. Building wealth from the ground up – by encouraging new models of business, including entrepreneurship and cooperatives to create a more sustainable economy.

5. Establishing a just transition – through creating a social partnership model and strong and flexible social and re-training programmes.

6. Ensuring greater income security – through investigation of new models of income security for New Zealand, including considering a limited trial of a universal basic income-type system in a town or region.

7. Reforming the transition between education, training and work – through comprehensive reform of career guidance and creating a school leavers' toolkit to prepare them for the practical requirements of work.

8. Labour's Working Futures Plan – in which all New Zealanders receive three free years of post-school education, phased in from 2019.

9. Partnering with Maori in a post-Treaty settlement era – through the Government facilitating strategic partnerships between iwi, business, and third parties to develop the Maori economy.

10. Establishing a Pasifika working futures plan – by working with the community to focus on the transition between education and work and identifying and eliminating the barriers to entrepreneurship.

"Ensuring we are prepared for the changing nature of work is one the biggest tasks facing New Zealand. These Ten Big Ideas are an indication of the exciting outcomes that are possible in the future of work," says Robertson.