Private Firms Join in Effort to Hire Welfare Recipients
WASHINGTON — Combining a symbol of resolve with a plea for support, a cadre of private employers Tuesday unveiled a high-profile bid for corporate America to hire welfare recipients whose benefits are scheduled to end in coming years.
The coalition of executives met at the White House, where President Clinton applauded their effort as crucial to the success of welfare reform. Under legislation passed in 1996, an estimated 1 million jobs will be needed for welfare recipients who are required to find work over the next four years.
The corporate effort--called the Welfare to Work Partnership--involves more than 100 executives, including officials from Burger King, Monsanto, Sprint, United Airlines and United Parcel Service. The managers optimistically predicted that their group would represent more than 1,000 firms later this year.
“You all recognize that this is not a partisan issue, that it is a moral obligation for our country,†Clinton told the business leaders. “It is America’s business and, therefore, it must be the work of American business.â€
In April, Clinton committed the federal government--including the White House--to hiring 10,000 people off welfare rolls by the end of his term. But on Tuesday, he emphasized that the ultimate success of welfare reform will depend far more heavily on hiring by private firms.
He told the business leaders: “What this is about is saying that we are going to go beyond what the normal economy would produce. We’re going to make an extra effort. And the government will do its part but it has to be led by the private sector.â€
The partnership seeks to help employers provide jobs to former welfare recipients by providing information about training and other services that companies might need in employing people who have been on welfare rolls.
“Through this national effort, American businesses will work together to give every person in our country an opportunity to be self-sufficient,†Gerald Greenwald, chief executive officer of United Airlines and chairman of the partnership, said. “It is important that large and small businesses from all regions and sectors step forward and accept the challenge.â€
United plans to hire 2,000 welfare beneficiaries by the year 2000.
Whether the U.S. economy can produce enough jobs that match the skills of those whose benefits will dry up under new work requirements is one of the issues that may determine the success or failure of welfare reform.
Clinton cited another: the disparity between where many jobs are being created--the suburbs--and the fact that many who need those jobs live in the cities. To address that mismatch, the president said, the administration has proposed funding $600 million for states and communities to find ways to help would-be workers get to their jobs.
While welfare reform has been a politically charged issue--the president ultimately signed a bill that had wide Republican support but prompted outrage among Democratic liberals--the partnership Tuesday sought to present a bipartisan image. The executives were joined by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin and Democratic Gov. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware. Earlier in the day, some of the executives met with House Republicans, who praised their effort.
“This is very, very encouraging to those of us who supported welfare reform,†said House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).
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