to boycott shops that use forced unpaid labour (aka slavery)?

[ChickenLickn]

These stores:

Boots,
Tesco,
Asda,
Primark,
Argos,
TK Maxx,
Poundland,
Arcadia group of stores run by billionaire Sir Philip Green, which includes Top Shop and Burton,

are all using 'workfare' schemes, forcing jobseekers to work 30 hrs/week unpaid for 6 months in profit making companies or face losing their jobseekers benefits. Mre details here.

Please avoid shopping in these shops as much as possible, this is basically slavery and is illegal under human rights law (and currently being challenged in the courts).

The good news is that Waterstones and Sainsburys have recently pulled out of the scheme.

THis is what slavery looks like.

It's a link to an anti-slavery organisation.

Just to show what slavery actually looks like.

Workfare should not be available to private companies to benefit from. What about sending them into public sector roles? Would save the country a fortune. If any unfortunate employee is going to be replaced by workfare candidates, surely it makes sense for it to be an employee already paid by the gov? Then we aren't paying twice.

I am with you op, and I work for one of the companies in your op. There are no jobs in retail! these workers are being used as free labour and the jobs simply are not there.

I have just done a search for 'sales assistant' on the job centers website 15 results come up within a 15 mile radius of where I live.

This scheme is a con! obviously these retailers need staff but are cutting back on the wage bill. The extra staff come from this scheme. Why employ people when you can get them for free.

A lot of replies on this thread seem to buy into the Dailyfail's everyone on job seekers allowance are scum, they sit around watching tv, they should work for their job seekers allowance. It's quite scary.

It does NOT take 6 months to train in a retail job - it takes a matter of 2 hours, if the training I received at Asda when I was a paid employee is anything to go by. And MOST of the people they put into retail placements have HAD previous retail jobs.

I know of at least 10 former Woolworths employees that are currently ON Workfare placements with Tescos in my area. Some of whom had worked for over 20 years in Woolworths. You can't tell me that Workfare is benefiting them. If they were offered a PAID position at Tescos, doing the job that they are doing for Workfare, they would JUMP at the chance. But Tescos tells them that there WON'T be a PAID position at the end of their placement - because "Why would we PAY someone to do this when we can get people free from the jobcentre to do it? It saves on our wage bill".

I also SPOKE to one of the people in my local Tescos this week, who was wearing the black trousers, white shirt, and black sleeveless jumper that is the 'uniform' for the Workfare staff. He explained to me that he had left school at 16yo, and had been working in Tescos since, biking 6 miles each way a day to get there. He was made redundant by Tescos 8 months ago. This week - he started a 6 month placement on Workfare IN THE SAME STORE HE HAD BEEN MADE REDUNDANT FROM, DOING THE SAME JOB HE HAD DONE BEFORE HIS REDUNDANCY.

If THAT is not slavery - then tell me what is? His income, for doing EXACTLY the same job (stock control on the dairy produce, accepting dairy deliveries, filling the dairy aisle shelves etc), has gone from £174.30 a week (he was 19yo) to just £67.50. How would YOU feel? Exploited? Worthless? Like you were nothing more than a commodity to be traded by people richer than you? Because THAT'S how the people IN that situation feel. Which IS akin to slavery.

If the job is there for Workfare - then it is there for a PAID employee.

Big business WANTS the labour for free, rather thn having to pay NMW for it...

Its not slavery. They are simply working for their benefits and have a choice.

Long term benefit claimers should do something in return for all the financial assistance they received. Plus it gets them into the routine of work, boosts their CV and means they will be more employable as less gaps and a recent reference.

The scheme only kicks in after x months on benefits so plenty of time to find a job before being asked to contribute back. Too many people see benefits as their right and things have needed shaking up for a while.

And the definition of Indentured Slavery :

Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, (The first 3 being the payment of Jobseekers allowance) lodging (The Housing Benefit) and other necessities during the term of indenture.

HOW can anyone say that Workfare DOESN'T meet the very definition of indentured slavery?

It is indentured slavery for the 21st Century.

The link I posted has videos about slavery that still exists even in London.

It's nothing to do with working normal hours in a workplace regulated by extensive legislation.

Please look at it and stop bandying the term slavery.

And whilst you're there, perhaps you might even consider a donation? Especially to help end child trafficking for forced labour - including in the sex trade.

It's more like the indentured servants, I suppose. It's still appalling. If they are working, they should be paid NMW.

But if there are NO retail, or other low-level jobs LEFT because they are going to Workfare participants - WHERE ARE THE JOBS?!

Plenty of time to find a job? Have YOU tried jobhunting in this economy? Tried to find a 9-5 job that fits in with childcare? There AREN'T any. What are these unemployed people meant to do? Take their dc to WORK with them? Leave their dc at home alone?

Edith - Workfare participants AREN'T covered by employment legislation. They are outside the legislation, and the hours can be whatever the COMPANY you are doing Workfare FOR needs. And you can be forced to do overtime, unpaid, too. If you complain - they tell you that they will call the jobcentre and get your benefits stopped. So it IS indentured slavery.

A smarter idea would be to boycott products made with very cheap overseas labour. That would force those labour costs up and that in turn would make UK labour costs more competitive so more jobs would stay here.

IF THE JOB IS THERE FOR WORKFARE, IT IS THERE FOR A NMW EMPLOYEE WITH EMPLOYEE RIGHTS.

Those last two posts are a very interesting contrast - Huntycat points out the truth for one employee and then Mummyofone shows what people who don't know individuals taking part in it are being sold by the government.

There is this awful, underlying anti-benefit stuff underneath it - and it is generalised across all those who claim benefits - that just because there are a few obvious piss-takers (as there in any 'job') we think they're all like that.

What Hunty's anecdote shows is the reality for many people - it's not a 'real' job, some of them are replacing redundancies, it's being openly admitted that they will just be replaced when they finish with other people.

It's modern slavery, dressed up to look pretty and plays on people's prejudices about the 'benefit'.

Once again I say that there is more money UNCLAIMED in benefits (that people are entitled to) than there is paid out.

And also that the elderly are the biggest cost to society - not people who are 'out of work' and eligible for workfare.

It's all just a big 'ooh look over here, what we're doing about those plasma tv owning benefit scroungers' but DON'T look over there at the tax avoiders, money going to their mates for NHS private work, and the bonuses paid to publicly owned companies.

what a bill of goods we are being sold - 'Divide and Rule'

There are jobs, at least five people have moved jobs where I work since Christmas. All office based normal working hours jobs. Therefore its not as dire as people make out and we arent in london a huge city.

From a quick google the scheme only kicks in after 12 months so plenty of time to find employment and lone parents arent expected to do it if they have a child under 5. Given the amount of after school clubs, childminders, nurseries doing school run clubs and friends/relatives helping out its never been easier for parents to work.

The only people opposed to this scheme are likely to be those claiming and dont want to work in return for the money they have been getting for a good amount of time for nothing.

"The only people opposed to this scheme are likely to be those claiming and dont want to work in return for the money they have been getting for a good amount of time for nothing"

Not true, I'm HUGELY opposed to this politically and I will never need to be in a scheme like this and have never claimed benefits.

When I was on JSA I wanted to do voluntary work in a school, I was only allowed to do 16 hours a week IIRC, but I would've been more than willing to do more. It annoyed me that they thought I would be unable to work during the day AND do job seeking in the late PM/evening and at weekends.

I think it's good for your morale to be in the habit of getting up and going to work.

The ONLY reason for Workfare is to continue to guarantee an income stream FROM these businesses that are taking the Workfare participants TO the political parties involved. And Labour was no better. So it's NOT a Tory-bashing here. It's a Workfare bashing.

Workfare was set in motion because political parties wanted to continue to get massive donations from businesses like Tescos. Who agreed to make those donations on the basis that NMW laws and employee rights were diluted.

I am in the process of waiting for a FoI request, sent to ALL companies involved in Workfare, asking how much they have donated to each political party in the last 10 years, since Workfare / New Deal started. And corrsep[onding that to how many New Deal / Workfare participants they have had go through their business in the same time period. I am assuming the results will be interesting. .

It is backhanders being traded behind the scenes that originated the Workfare schemes - NOT any altruistic thoughts of 'helping' people back into work. If they wanted to do that, then they would provide suitable training for EVERY unemployed person, based on their current skills (or lack of skills), to enable them to gain paid employment.

Businesses are getting work done without having to pay for it. The Government is LOSING Income Tax that those employees WOULD have paid had they been employed at NMW. The Government is STILL having to pay OUT of the pot for their benefits.

The Workfare participants feel like their labour has been devalued - their work is MEANT to be worth a minimum of £6.08/hr. Instead they are working for just £67.50 a week. Roughly £1.92/hr.

IF THE JOB IS THERE FOR WORKFARE, IT IS THERE FOR A PAID EMPLOYEE WITH EMPLOYEE RIGHTS.

I can see both sides.
The employers are getting away with having to pay the workforce in effect.
However, I did unpaid work to gain experience whilst studying at the same time and it was bloody hard.
I did it though and it gave me the edge in the interview.
It showed I was hardworker amongst other things.

HuntyCat: I feel this is turning into pantomime "oh yes they are" - or are you really unaware of how regulated a workplace is in UK

Working time directive and health and safety are the two big areas that spring to mind. There are others - dealing with harassment, bullying and other unfair treatment. And corporal punishment is definitely outlawed. None of those protections are available to slaves.

Please - readers on this thread - look at the link about the real problems which continue (even in UK) with slavery. And think about what the term is usually held to mean.

< PS: not trying to stand in way of discussions of the evils of workfare. Just pleading for the term used to describe a different issue isn't hijacked >

And I am HUGELY opposed to this scheme, despite being semi-unlikely to need it (as I will be back in work LONG before my youngest dc is 5yo, I am expecting to be back in work PT as soon as he is 3yo and getting Nursery Vouchers).

Because it is TAKING jobs that I would do.

The Workfare participants are TAKING THE JOBS AWAY FROM ME.

Working Time Directive - doesn't apply to Workfare,a s you are MADE to opt out. (As are MOST retail employees, in truth, but that's another, separate issue).

Health and Safety - again, Workfare participants are NOT subject to as stringent H&S regulations. When I WORKED in a retail job, I was not allowed to use the waste compacter, due to H&S (to do with my epilepsy). If I was put on Workfare - I would be MADE to, or lose my benefits. And if any accident happened, I WOULDN'T be covered by their EMPLOYEE insurance, as I wouldn't be an EMPLOYEE. So I would have NO RIGHT TO COMPENSATION.

If you take time off sick due to harassment or bullying - you LOSE your benefits. So you DO NOT have the same protections. There has been documented cases of female Workfare participants being touched sexually by their employers, refusing to go back, and LOSING THEIR BENEFITS. They call the police, they are told not to return to the workplace - but if they DON'T, then they lose their benefits.

Workfare participants DO NOT have the same protections as a paid employee.

The ONLY protection from corporal punishment is calling the police. And if they ask you to goto the station during your Workfare shift...you lose your benefits. Not much of a protection THERE...People just won't say or do anything, and most will put up with anything the companies throw at them, because it is put up with it or STARVE.

How is that NOT slavery?

My nephew who recently graduated with a Masters in Chemistry was recently chewed up and spat out by the workfare programme.

After being unable to find a job after university he was placed in an Asda store for work experience, with the wishy washy promise of a job at the end. There was 15 workfare participants in his intake.
Initially he worked for his JSA and had the accompanying travel benefits (the store was around 10 miles from his home) he cannot drive, and even if he could he can not afford to run a car.

Once he had completed his placement approx six weeks, he was kept on as a temporary worker in the run up to Christmas. All JSA mentioned accompanying benefits stopped. Only, he was only ever given 15 hours worth of work, therefore wasn't entitled to any top ups or help. Sometimes after being promised a shift he was told he wasn't needed at all.
He had to pay for his travel costs out of his 'wage' and all other living costs. Luckily he is living with his parents so was not out on a limb.

None of the 15 participants were kept on permanently, none ever had more than 15/6 hours and all 15 had their contracts terminated on Christmas Eve, Nice. This I'm certain to make room for the next wave of workfare workers who the company are making a tidy amount from.

I've lost track of my point in all that but just wanted to show a real example of what's going on, it's not a lovely shoe- in to a job and people who believe that are at best naive.

NeldaAufwader, at least he has an upto reference, experience and was able to sign off JSA for a few months whilst he tempted. I dont see them promising everybody jobs at the end of it. Far better to do that than have sat at home for the same amount of time and still plenty of time to look for a job.

No, HuntyCat. And you know that the protection against corporal punishment is that it is illegal, and that if an assault is committed at work the police will be called to the workplace and prosecution can ensue. And it's identical protection for all workers, regardless of status. But when you turn to slavery, it is not happening in regulated workplaces.

And I agree, an employer who breaches H&S when they have no workfare workers may well continue to do so when they do. And there are employers who break the law. It will however be equally criminal for all employers, and many are called to account for breaches every year. An employer is bound, by law, for all H&S issues for workers, clients, visitors - anyone on the premises. It cannot be removed for workfare workers, or indeed anyone else.

Please read the link I posted about slavery. The differences are huge and readily evident.

And my thanks to you for giving me so many chances to post and repost about the work of the AntiSlavery Organisation. It, and others, do really important work.