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workfare announcement next week?
further to today’s news ...
Long-term unemployed to be required to take full-time unpaid work or risk losing benefits
... dug out a 2008 rightsnet story on the DWP’s own research that found that -
- there is little evidence that workfare increases the likelihood of finding work
- it can even reduce employment chances by limiting the time available for job search and by failing to provide the skills and experience valued by employers
- workfare is least effective in getting people into jobs in weak labour markets where unemployment is high
- workfare is least effective for individuals with multiple barriers to work.
the 2008 research report - though no longer available on the DWP site - can be downloaded @
http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/Research_Report_No_533_2008.pdf
IMHO I don’t think the tories are actually the slightest bit interested in whether it works or not. They have discovered that benefit claimants are perhaps the last group in society it is not illegal to victimise and discriminate against, and are shamelessly and enthusiastically putting the boot into the poor and vulnerable in a desperate attempt to appear tough. I suspect the over-riding motive is actually to try and win over loony right-wing voters from UKIP.
Or has this job just made me incredibly cynical?
Nope. Couldn’t have put it better.
Can Rightsnet PLEASE stop using facts and statistics to back up their arguments. It REALLY wont do!
I agree with the above though : the coalition simply dont care about this kinda thing
It seems to be getting even more divorced from reality/practicality or actual usefulness judging from the news story that some claimants could be asked to attend the Jobcentre from 9-5 for five days a week. The assumption seems to be that with specialist help these claimants will be able to find work but the tone implies that this is something akin to a ‘punishment’ for being unemployed and that is regrettable.
I can’t help wondering what resources the poor old JC+ staff will actually have to carry out this programme, they are not very well staffed as it is and if people have to be allocated to help the long term unemployed from 9-5 every day…....?