Labour and the Greens have labelled National's promise to drug test unemployed beneficiaries cruel and deplorable, while Winston Peters has warned it borders on fascist.

The National plan would also cut payments for long-term beneficiaries and double stand-down periods for people who repeatedly quit their jobs.

National is promising to introduce random drug testing for those on the jobseeker benefit to ensure they're "ready for work".

Chris Hipkins has admitted Labour is not committing to reversing a law change that meant 18 and 19 year olds could only receive the Jobseeker benefit if they were from very low income families.