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

SurlyCue, the alternative is to put in a shift at the charity shop, didn't you bother to read the OP?

you'll have to explain how doing voluntary work instead of claiming JSA will feed and shelter this man? Will he eat the donated stock?

Some of you need to cop on. If you answer yes to any of the following you are ignorant:

1. People should be paid less than minimum wage for their labour.
2. Offering unpaid work and using it to replace Christmas or seasonal workers is acceptable.
3. Only the feckless and work shy claim JSA.
4. Nobody needs to claim JSA.
5. Every person "offered" mandatory workplace activity has

a) never had a job. b) has no work experience c) has never trained or qualified for a professional or skilled job. d) has no routine and sits around all day doing nothing.

Do you not understand that our taxes are being used to fund the profits of those organisations who accept this free labour? They do not give it back to the Treasury to pay the JSA back. Do you understand that every hour worked unpaid is one less hour paid to a worker who would pay tax and NI?

Perhaps you could cut out the middle man and just post Poundland a cheque directly and save wasting everyone's time?

Of course it is SurlyCue.
How many job advertisements are placed on the notice board at Wetherspoons?

if he was paid £6.70 an hour for his 30 hours he would get around £200.

So he gets £78 jsa. Leaves £122 which is likely to be equivalent to his housing benefit and council tax benefit (roughly)

So how does it equate to slave labour? Even if the HB/CB figure is overestimated

Moving, what have you got against charity shops?

Roar at "come on you fannies"

Because if he was paid £200 he'd still be entitled to HB more than likely. And maybe even WTC.

Want an odd conclusion to come to. Are you being deliberately facetious redbin?

To spell it out I have nothing against charity shops and EVERYTHING against exploiting workers.

Our employment rights are important and should be respected and protected. Schemes like this are a violation of those rights.

He's been unemployed for a long time, so whatever he's doing to find work isn't working. This might be a way to change his fortunes. It's not great but in his position the best thing to do is view it positively. He can't change the fact that he has to do it and it might help him

don't think he'd be entitled to anything else

"you'll have to explain how doing voluntary work instead of claiming JSA will feed and shelter this man? Will he eat the donated stock?"

She/He won't have to because the state is taking our money and giving it to him/her in the form of JSA. I have to ask again, did you actually bother to read the OP?

moving are you always so rude and unpleasant when people express views different to your own?

Sad truth is that a lot of long term JSA claimants have no desire to find paid work.

So moving, you want charity shops to be forced to pay their volunteers? Wow.

Would you care to elaborate what I have written that is rude or unpleasant please?

Stop extrapolating things from my posts i haven't said.

moving I'd say this "Some of you need to cop on. If you answer yes to any of the following you are ignorant" is rude and unpleasant.

But perhaps I am a sheltered little flower who lives and works in a world where people don't say or write things like that.

Anthony is that the truth though? I don't doubt that those people exist but I don't believe that they're the majority at all.

I feel it's a good programme.

If you've been on JSA for a long time, are able bodied and have no 'reason' why you cannot work (caring responsibilities etc) then 30 hours of voluntary work a week is reasonable.

And for all the 'Oh but he has to apply for jobs as well' comments - you do your job searching in the evenings and on weekends - like people who are currently supporting themselves would have to if they were looking for a new job.

I don't buy into the 'slave labour' tbh. The voluntary work is unpaid. It's something they have to commit to to continue receiving benefits for being unemployed. Giving something back considering the state has/is supporting you. And like pp's have said, if you add on hb/ct benefit it probably adds up to minimum wage anyway.

Of course it is SurlyCue.
How many job advertisements are placed on the notice board at Wetherspoons?

Of course what is?

Wetherspoons? No idea. Ive never been in one. Are they offering a job for every JSA claimant? Problem sorted then.

Tbf you already have a job than you can be selective in what you apply for.On jsa you have to apply for10 jobs per week even if you are not actually qualified for them. Thus wasting the personvon jsavtime and the future employers. Plus with no pc or internet access at home it requires a 3 mile walk to the library. Tbh not sure how long he has been out of work but guessing a year as he has been forced to join this scheme. He still has to pay somecouncil tax as his local council charge everyone unless you have d under 5.

So moving, you want charity shops to be forced to pay their volunteers? Wow.

I haven't said that at all. Let's play the posts not the poster please otherwise this is going to descend further into farce.

Oh and Anthony that's not at all rude or unpleasant in context. If you read what I wrote you will see I posted a list of statements that are often wheeled out to bash benefit claimants but that are not based in any kind of fact and are in fact ridiculous. If you do indeed believe hateful rhetoric without question then you would be ignorant and stating that is not rude, just true. Did you really believe each of those statements to be factual?! :(

So has the person in the OP been unfortunately made redundant after long term employment, or never bothered to work at all. If the former he will have work experience and references and will probably be only getting JSA through NI contributions, if the latter, he could be getting all sort of benefits and a stint at the charity shop will be good experience.

I do not agree with workfare for places like Poundland for anyone though, a charity is different.

I've been to lots of Wetherspoons in the recent months (free wifi, good for job seekers with a smart phone or laptop ) and haven't seen any jobs advertised in any of them.

Tbh hadn't thought about rent but in our area probably 80 per week so still less than min wage.

Remember that if you get JSA that usually entitles you to Housing benefit, (can be worth a lot but usually covers your rent), also entitles you to discounts on certain things, (medical, dental etc). I am not saying it is generous but it is more than just the £60 a week mentioned.