Labor
While Hawai‘i’s current unemployment numbers may look good on paper, we all know that merely having a job is often not enough to make ends meet, especially given our high cost of living. Low-paying, minimum-wage jobs leave many of Hawai‘i’s people underemployed. That is, they must either work more than one job or depend on others for financial support. We can do better.
To improve labor conditions in our state, we will:
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Fund job training programs at the community colleges.
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Establish academies to teach construction trades and other vocations at our public high schools.
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Assist farm workers displaced by company closures with low-interest loans and grants, rental assistance and other support services.
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Reform our pension and worker’s compensation systems to improve efficiency, while maintaining essential protections and benefits for employees.
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Promote job protection and "hiring local" whenever new companies or industries take over management or enter Hawai‘i’s market.