Drug testing on way for jobseekers

Paula Bennett

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announced today pre-employment drug testing would take effect from next July and beneficiaries with work expectations would face sanctions if they refused to apply for drug-tested jobs.

Around 40 percent of the jobs listed with Work and Income require drug tests and the policy will apply only to those with a work expectation attached to their benefit and only for available work opportunities requiring drug tests.

Currently an unemployment beneficiary can decline to apply for an available drug-tested job, because they won't pass the test, without consequence.

Work and Income have announced they will reimburse employers for test failures but beneficiaries who fail a test will have the cost of the drug test deducted from their benefit.

"Where people fail a drug test or refuse to apply for a drug tested job, they must agree to stop using drugs or their benefit will be cut by 50 percent. They will be given 30 days to allow any drugs they have taken to leave their system.

"Where they fail a test or refuse a second time, they will have their benefit suspended until they agree that they will provide a 'clean' drug test within 30 days. If they do not do this their benefit will be cancelled.

"People will be given a warning and reasonable period of time to stop using drugs before having to take another drug test. But further failures will result in benefit reduction and possible cancellation," said Mrs Bennett.

Some people on prescribed medicine will be exempt and people with addiction will be supported with their dependency.

Mrs Bennett said experts will carry out robust clinical assessments to determine whether people are recreational users or have a drug dependency.

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Drug testing on way for jobseekers