Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

'More help needed' to get young mums back to work

Updated at 7:53 pm on 10 February 2011

A social service group and the Labour Party have criticised the Government for not doing enough to help young single mothers back into the workforce.

Prime Minister John Key has said a significant number of young women are going onto the Domestic Purposes Benefit and staying there for a lifetime.

Labour Party deputy leader Annette King says assistance for these women, such as the Training Incentive Allowance, has been reduced by the Government and needs to be improved.

Christchurch centre Single Women as Parents says qualifying for the training allowance is a stumbling block for single mothers' access to education.

The centre's manager, Vanessa Taylor, says some of the young women she helps struggle to put food on the table, and the Government needs to be more in touch with the reality of people's lives.

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