McDonald's to get up to $16,000 a beneficiary

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McDonald's restaurants will receive up to $16,000 a year of taxpayers' money every time it recruits a beneficiary under a partnership with Work and Income.

Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett is citing the relationship with the fast-food giant as an example of the Government's commitment to getting beneficiaries into jobs. A long-term unemployed person could gain an employer a $16,000 subsidy over 12 months more than $300 a week.

Winz recently put forward 54 workers for jobs at the McDonald's in Dannevirke 27 were hired, 12 of whom had been on benefits. Eight of those accrued a $36,000 subsidy for their employer, Bennett said.

An agreement between Winz and the fast food chain will provide up to 7000 jobs to unemployed people over the next five years, Bennett said.

But this figure has been questioned by union representatives and McDonald's.

A McDonald's spokeswoman said the partnership with Winz was just one avenue of recruitment the company would use to fill an expected 6000 jobs over the next three years.

Green Party social development spokeswoman Sue Bradford said it was inappropriate to subsidise a large corporation, especially while the ministry was cutting jobs in its own backyard. Unite union secretary Matt McCarten said: "McDonald's has had access to [the scheme] like every other employer." Fairfax

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