to think this is akin to slave labour.

[northernsoul78]

A friend on JSA is expected to do 30 hours mandatory (voluntary) work in a charity shop for 30 hours per week and apply for at least 10 jobs per week. It wouldn't be so bad if the voluntary work wouldbe likely to lead to a job but ofcourse it won't.
Aibu

'if people can't be bothered to work, surely they cannot expect to receive the same amount of money they would if they had a job?'

So now all unemployed people are classed at 'can't be bothered to work'?

Fortunately, I haven't been in this position, but a number of years back, when I was facing redundancy, I was told two things. Firstly, that finding work was a full-time occupation and, secondly, that on average that you needed to put in at least ten job applications in order to get an interview and go to ten interviews before you got a job offer.

Yabu

Maybe this will motivate him to get a job.

"Working in frontline retail does not require much of a skill, extensive training or significant experience. Its not law firms or other high-end jobs we're talking about."

Exactly. It's exploitation not 'work experience'.

I agree with expat and Gideon. I also think people should read HelenaDove's post. Last Christmas, the internet - including Mumsnet - was teeming with irate Argos employees who'd been told they couldn't have any extra hours as the firm was using workfare to take up the slack. This has been replicated all over the place.

Workfarers can be, and often have been, sanctioned due to unfair complaints from 'providers'.

Think about that word, providers. Your tax money's being used to pay between £300 and £2,500 a time to companies to get free staff, whose subsistence you are also paying. Who wins here?

The "Mandatory Work Programme" is being replaced by a scheme that gives jobcentres unlimited powers to send sick & disabled people on workfare. The press releases say the "Work and Health Programme" hasn't been firmed up yet because there's been an outcry from mental health organisations, pointing out that the already astronomical suicide rate amongst mentally ill claimants is going to become a death programme once sufferers can be made destitute for failing to meet commitments they cannot meet.

People with mental illnesses/disabilities are the group of highest concern, but we've already seen people being told to report for work while they're in hospital (and being sanctioned when they don't turn up) and instructed to stop going for chemotherapy so that they can fulfil workfare.

It seems some folks haven't yet grasped what an insane world we're living in.

Its fucking knackering for the retail workers who do it Nat......especially at Christmas and the pay should reflect that.

Those workfarers doing it at Poundland this Xmas are going to be knackered and stressed, run off their feet with not even time to blow their nose with no wage at the end of it.

Whilst we are on the subject of being paid NMW for any work, please can I mention Carer's Allowance?

£62 a week and you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring.

Plus you lose it when you earn over £110, even if your caring responsibilities continue.

To me it is a disgrace and a scandal how carers are treated and really devalues the very hard work they do and the amount of money their caring saves the government/tax payers. (I say this as a cared for person)

The whole point is that it is just enough to get by on - if people can't be bothered to work, surely they cannot expect to receive the same amount of money they would if they had a job?

You're being silly now, Anthony, and rather missing the point. Can't you see, don't you understand, how workfare is unethical?

So if it was his actual job her get £200 a week?

That's an excellent post garlick.

expat if the able bodied male adult who is the subject of this thread has been unemployed for a significant amount of time the chances are he either can't be bothered to work or he's being too picky. There are jobs out there for people who really want them.

YY Garlick.

Sorry for error, £62.10 a week.

Is it really 10 jobs a week? Whenever I have had to look for a job I would probably only apply for 2 or 3 jobs in a week. I can't believe that there are that many jobs to choose from TBH.

Is retail related to your friends previous experience? If your friend has previous experience in say, finance, it would make more sense to volunteer for a charity finance department i think.

Whilst i dont think its entirely unreasonable to do some volunteering whilst claiming JSA i think it should (where possible) relevent to their previous experience or qualifications.

I dont think its too much to ask to apply for ten jobs a week... Could probably do that in ten minutes on some websites!

Anthony i did workfare 15 years ago. After doing 3 months in a charity shop they wanted me to work in a soup factory for 3 months for my JSA. Luckily i secured a job in a sex chatline office. Which i worked at for over two years.

if people can't be bothered to work, surely they cannot expect to receive the same amount of money they would if they had a job?

Why is the assumption always that people can't be bothered to work? My DD has been looking for a job since leaving college in June. During that time she's been offered one single job: a zero hours contract job in a local cafe, which she accepted. In 3 weeks they offered her work for 6 hours, ringing her up half an hour before they expected her to come in. This is what people call 'a job' nowadays apparently. FWIW, she's not claiming any benefits as she's living at home and I'm supporting her. She's been to agencies, the Job Centre and walked the town centre handing out her CV. She's intelligent (3 A Levels, 9 GCSEx), presentable and keen. Nothing.

If this is work in a charity shop it's not the same as workfare though?

Have to admit I'm shocked the Poundland thing is still happening. I thought (hoped) that was scrapped after the outrage when the public found out how corporations were exploiting it

Good for you Helena. Needs must and all that!

I can't believe that there are that many jobs to choose from TBH.

There arent where I am. certainly not 10 new ones a week. Maybe 3.

"you needed to put in at least ten job applications"

It's a lot more than that in my opinion.

Jump a charity could end up being responsible for getting someone sanctioned.

"If this is work in a charity shop it's not the same as workfare though? "

Of course it is!

"There are jobs out there for people who really want them."

When was the last time you were looking for work Anthony.
There may be jobs, but there are also lots of other unemployed people looking for them. I have a couple of friends who have been unemployed (apart from a few days here and there) for many months and I can assure you that they are trying.

Is it really 10 jobs a week? Whenever I have had to look for a job I would probably only apply for 2 or 3 jobs in a week. I can't believe that there are that many jobs to choose from TBH.

Depends where you are, there are so many in London, and we struggle to find staff. No-one wants to work a 35 hours shift over 7 days! (that's a 35 hours week, but any day between Monday and Sunday. People don't want to work Sunday, not considered an overtime day, for a rate above the AVERAGE uk salary). Foreigners get their pick because locals aren't bothered.

5 job applications a day (at least) is a perfectly reasonable number, even if very low.