Robertson heads to Paris for new policy ideas

Shadow finance spokesman, Grant Robertson, is looking to Europe for new economic policy ideas.  

He is flying to Paris to attend a Future of Work Forum being organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as the Labour Party wants a refreshed economic platform before next year's general election. 

Mr Robertson is apparently taking a keen interest in Denmark's "flexi-security" model, which pays workers who lose their jobs a relatively generous, time-limited form of unemployment benefit in exchange for greater ability to hire and fire quickly, according to political newsletter, Politik.

Labour's Future of Work Commission, the engine room for the party's economic policy redevelopment, is "looking seriously" at the Danish policy, although there is less enthusiasm for "universal basic income" policy, which Finland is currently implementing and pays all citizens a basic income irrespective of whether they are in work or not.

"I think that the universal basic income has got a long way to go before anyone could legitimately say it was an answer but the ideas that lie behind it are really important, which is providing that income security at a time of volatility," Mr Robertson told Politik editor Richard Harman.

Labour is also focusing on the growing trend towards automation of a far wider variety of both blue and white collar jobs than in the past. It is also keen on developing education and training policies that will help people find work to replace the jobs that are disappearing.

The findings of the Future of Work Commission are due for publication in November this year, Mr Robertson says.

The outcome will be pivotal to the formulation of more electable policies than Labour has taken to the last two general elections, which included a higher pension age and a capital gains tax on all but the family home.

"All over the world countries are grappling with how to ensure the future of work is fair and prosperous for all, and they will be sharing those ideas at the forum," Mr Robertson said before his departure to Paris. 

"The rapidly changing nature and experience of work, driven by the forces of automation and globalisation, will have a fundamental effect on New Zealanders." 

A New Zealand Institute of Economic Research study earlier this year found that 46% of jobs will cease to exist in the next two decades. "There is a real risk of growing inequality if we do not actively manage this change," he says.

"While this kind of disruption is scary there is great opportunity for New Zealand in the new economy if we are prepared. This means looking at how we ensure access to technology, high quality and responsive education and training systems, and greater income security."

Politik also says Mr Robertson is willing to listen to local governments seeking regional development through public-private partnerships, to which Labour is generally opposed.

"I would be very, very rigorous in my analysis of those kind of developments because I think we have seen them go wrong, but we've seen with roading that you can do it well,"

(BusinessDesk)