09 November 2011

Long-term jobless could face community placements


Ministers are considering plans to refer people who have been unemployed for more than two years into compulsory community work placements.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said under the proposals, people who have been supported ‘intensively’ through the Work Programme for two years and have still not found sustainable employment, may have to do community work or ultimately they could lose their benefit entitlement.

Chris Grayling picture Chris Grayling: wants long-term unemployed to ‘get into the habit and routine of work’.

The Government is to test compulsory community work coupled with more intensive support through Jobcentre Plus in four key areas ahead of rolling out the scheme nationwide in 2013.

The proposals send a clear message to jobseekers that they will be supported until they get into sustainable employment. If they refuse to engage with the system they may no longer be entitled to financial support from the State.

‘We want a welfare state which is a ladder up which people climb not a place in which they live,’ Chris Grayling said.

‘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.’





Your comments

It used to work in years gone by, when Councils were efficient & responsive. Now we have little tinpot dictators running political agendas, employing many in non jobs. Full of knowitall apologists and spendthrifts . . Get a grip Councils, the game is up.

J Smith, Added: Monday, 21 November 2011 11:47 PM

Lets face it, we are never going to agree on this. I find it offensive that you are comparing getting the long term unemployed to earn their benefits to slavery, think of the conditions that slaves lived in & had to work under. Constant beatings, death, disease, lack of food, squalid conditions etc. Comparing slavery to doing good in the community is down right disgusting. You have a right to disagree with me but don't use the memory of oppressed slaves to tell me that you are right.

Fed Up Tax Payer!!, Added: Tuesday, 15 November 2011 01:55 PM

In case you the "tax payers" by the way that includes me. Slavery, to force people to work by the threat of starvation is illegal under international law. To you Fed up tax Payer I say forcing people to work for their dole is as close to slavery as you can get, calling it community work does not absolve you of collective responsibility. I believe that people should be helped into paid work, with real wages. How many more millions need be unemployed before they stop being scroungers in your eyes?

David Hambly, Added: Friday, 11 November 2011 10:49 AM

Totally agree Miriam, its abot time the spongers had a kick up the wotsit & got out into the real world. People who want to work will do what they can to get employment,those who dont try every trick in the book not to. The knock on is that the people who really need the sickness benefit are suffering because of people playing the system. There are plenty of things that need doing that LA's cant afford to pay staff to do & if done right it can be something to be proud of.

Fed Up Tax Payer!!, Added: Friday, 11 November 2011 08:47 AM

Thank goodness for this! It really helps to separate those ones trying to get work from the 'won't workers'. It will also help to regularise the employment status of those who claim benefit but work 'on the black'. Care must be taken, however, that the communuity work found for participants is not displacing real workers. Otherwise, about time!

Miriam Lewis, Community Development Manager, Skanska, Added: Thursday, 10 November 2011 03:49 PM

Last I heard slavery was un paid, isnt it about time people who have been on the dole for years started to ern their money like the rest of us. Too many generations of families have never worked because "its not worth me getting a job because of x,y & Z. I'm not saying that every one comes under this banner & there are people who just can't get a job for what ever reason. I would rather top up some ones wage to help pay for their rent than them turn down jobs. Give people a Work Ethic

Fed Up Tax Payer!!, Added: Thursday, 10 November 2011 01:42 PM

The best volunteers are those who step forward not those who are forced to do it. JCP have been sending down applicants to the volunteer centre here and the majority, unfortunatey,do not want to do the work and cause all sorts of disruption and extra work. They only turn up because they feel they have no choice. This then rebounds on the volunteer centre and the good work they are trying to do. This needs a rethink.

anne gower, Councillor, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Added: Thursday, 10 November 2011 12:48 PM

Correct me if I am wrong but is slavery still outlawed under international law? Presumably the community work they will be doing is that of sacked public sector workers. To force people to work by denying access to a basic income to exist will lead to increased crime and treats people like dirt. Another nasty policy from the nasty party. They may taake your jobs, they may take your dole, but they will never take our freedom. This policy is clearly illegal under existing law.

David Hambly, Added: Wednesday, 9 November 2011 10:47 AM



 Back     Top of page