1827 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

1827 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Why is the Ministry of Social Development able to report that an increase in sanctions was the result of the Ministry of Social Development facilitating employment workshops, but is not able to report how many people work seminars support into employment?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development’s (the Ministry’s) sites offer workshops, seminars, job expos, and other events. Each site tailors their offerings and the frequency of events based on the needs of their clients. These events are locally driven. Seminars are just one of many tools the Ministry uses to actively engage with job seekers and provide them opportunities to shift into work. It is a combination of activities, interventions, referrals to jobs, providers and services, as well as engagements with employers which lead to jobseekers shifting into work. The Ministry does not centrally collate data on work seminars. This information is held on notes in individual client files and to provide this data would require substantial manual collation and divert staff from their core duties.