Isolation misery for teen

Our 14-year-old grandson has just returned from the US and is in isolation in a room on his own, in a hotel in Auckland and allowed out for only an hour a day. He lost his father 18 months ago and his mother is still in the US and hoping to be back in New Zealand some time soon, but has been held up because of work commitments. They are both New Zealand citizens.

We think this arrangement is absolutely appalling and are very concerned about our grandson’s coping ability at this young age. He will eventually return to Christchurch to stay with us but is this the very best our Government can do to protect teenagers suffering this dismal and unacceptable situation?

Lynley Cullinane, Christchurch

The wage subsidy has supported thousands of workers, but when it ends on September 1, it will be up to each worker to renegotiate with their employers.

The workers I have the most concern for are those whose employment was originally as casual, sole trader or freelance etc. For them there is no such thing as sick pay and yet this type of employment arrangement has increased rapidly ever since National destroyed New Zealand’s union system in the 1990s.

So what happens to these workers and those who work alongside them if they become ill? The reality is that most of them regularly come to work regardless of any illness because they have mortgages to pay and families to feed. These are not thoughtless people, just people living without union protections. The Government needs to consider this situation. M. Carol Scott, Auckland