Jobless to be forced into volunteer work
A SCHEME to force the long-term unemployed to do compulsory community work will be piloted in Notts.
The Department for Work and Pensions says that those who have been through the Government's Work Programme for two years but have still not found a job will be asked to do the work in a pilot scheme in Lincolnshire, Rutland and Notts, Derbyshire, East Anglia, and Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
If people do not take up the unpaid posts, they could face losing their benefits.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said it was a clear message to jobseekers.
He said: "We want a welfare state which is a ladder up which people climb not a place in which they live.
"If people who are fit for employment still haven't managed to find a job after the intensive support provided by the Work Programme, we want them to do community work and get into the habit and routine of work.
"No one should expect to be able to sit at home doing nothing."
Other clients will be given more intensive support from JobCentre Plus during the pilot scheme.
If the trial schemes are successful, the Government is looking to introduce the scheme nationwide in 2013.
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by SuperGerrard
Monday, November 21 2011, 4:37PM
“@globy00l
As said, you actually don't know what you're talking about.
@starving
Nothing then. Good stuff.”
by globy00l
Friday, November 18 2011, 6:27PM
“@SuperGerrard
Well there I was thinking there was only one particular brand of enforced work on the DWP's agenda and it turns out there are at least two. I don't think that makes my last statement false. The point remains - the DWP is forcing claimants to work for their benefits, undermining the minimum wage and legally employed workers. What particular scheme it is is irrelevant to the poor sods who are being made to do the work and their fellow workers whose employment is being made more precarious.
As regards the "voluntary" work - well, it devalues voluntary work if reluctant people are being forced to do it and can't be good for the charitable organisations either.
As far as I can see, everyone is losing out here except pen pushers at the DWP who can claim they're getting people back to work and the big businesses who are getting free labour.”
by starving
Friday, November 18 2011, 4:17PM
“The tenor of my remark was aimed at the very narrow view you take regarding the unemployed.
As for your remark that is based on having absolutely no knowledge of my position whatsoever I will treat it with the contempt it fully deserves.
Just how many jobs are going begging in the Sage Payroll area?”
by SuperGerrard
Friday, November 18 2011, 11:45AM
“@globy00l
What you've done there is taken a totally different contract that has been missold to the employers and applied it to this subject. You are desperate and don't know what you're talking about. I know what I'm talking about as I work on the contract. You don't because you don't.
@starving
That is genuinely good advice for people who have been made recently redundant. You are simply being childish and churlish. What do you do to help the unemployed and NEET? I suspect very little indeed.”
by globy00l
Friday, November 18 2011, 11:02AM
“Just in case anyone still agrees with SuperGerrard that all of the forced work placements are in charities rather than in businesses, undercutting paid workers:
http://tinyurl.com/ccjtku6”
by starving
Thursday, November 17 2011, 6:58PM
“Well SuperGerrard that sorts out the countries unemployment problem.
I had no idea it was that simple. The 2.6million can rejoice and get their backsides back to work.
No excuses then. Get the training open a bank account lads and lasses.”
by neilant
Thursday, November 17 2011, 6:05PM
“sython1.... my post that you refer to was made specifically to 2 other posters, & didnt require or ask for any type of nasty comment from you.. No content of which is worth quoting......
But in view of your obvious know all attitude & opinions on this topic, Im very pleased to hear that you dont like or agree with my opinions.. The feeling is mutual....”
by SuperGerrard
Thursday, November 17 2011, 5:14PM
“@countytilldie
If you have just been made redundant you can access a Skills Transfer Analysis for the newly redundant. This is aimed to upskill people and it works.
By the very nature of being made redundant there is a lack of jobs, whatever your skill level, so you'll need to do something else.
If you speak to your JCP advisor they will refer you. They may say that you are not entitled but, and this is not their fault, they may not be aware of all the provision available to them and sometimes it is a case of who shouts loudest.
Get your "STA" and train in something where there are jobs. For example there are no end of payroll jobs in Nottingham at the moment. Get your STA and see if you can access Sage Payroll training. It pays about £9 per hour and there are plenty of jobs. Could be something else, I'd need to know your background, but there is provision available to help you back to work.
Hope this helps and good luck.”
by smshogun
Thursday, November 17 2011, 3:50PM
“Countytillidie
Many people are unemployed and many are highly skilled so its not just the unskilled, will the system allow you to train and get a skill or a recognised qualification in something you like. As a company we have a continual training plan which allows our employees to train in their own time, but, at our expense. We had a number of unskilled workers who responded well to training and lacked skills for a variety of reasons, now virtually all our workers have some skill and qualification along with the chance of promotion and the resultant wage/salary increase.”
by BLawrenson
Thursday, November 17 2011, 1:55PM
“Dear Starving, I should have twigged. You are the last person I would ever accuse of not living by Christian principles. From your very considerable experience working with the homeless I trust other posters will realise you know what you are talking about being based on experience and not prejudice.”