Voluntary work or lose benefits

[Marjoriew]

Government intend to cut benefits of claimants on JSA who refuse to do voluntary work of 30 hours a week over a 4-week period.
Benefits could be stopped for up to 3 months if claimants refuse to comply.

Even if they learn nothing from it (and they will learn to get up, dress suitably, talk to colleagues and get some exercise from the physical work etc and learn a correlation between effort and reward) it is what most people in the UK want who are funding those on benefits. Even if there is no benefit to the individual we still want it. Why should the individuals only do things which benefit themselves anyway?

The possible waste of money point I can understand. It would take money to put it into place, and maybe because of that, it wouldn't be worth it.

But to say it's degrading to people, that they shouldn't be forced to work and making out that they will be left to starve as some posters have done, is quite simply wrong.

'They are not being treated worse than criminals, criminals have no freedom, and very little choice of what to spend their money on.'

And they are also convicted lawbreakers. They are there in part to be punished for that.

But hey ho. The people who really fucked up this country get off not only unpunished but also rewarded with millions in taxpayer fronted riches.

Good point mumcentreplus. How much is this scheme going to cost to run? It's hardly saving the taxpayer money and it does nothing to get someone back to work. Voluntary work is helpful when it is voluntary. Prospective employers then know you have a work ethic.

Dh is a shithouse and won't post this himself cos he is scared.

so DH's idea.

anyone who has worked for over a year get a little unemployed person to clean their house for an hour a week

it's tempting

Sorry, xposted.

Free School Meals.

People on benefit can chose wht they spend their money on, of course they can. Plenty of them smoke, drink, go on nights out, eat what they choose. They can use the internet, watch whatever they want on television.

But it's not about comparing it to criminals. Criminals are in prison as punishment or to protect society.

Yes it is treating jobseeking people worse than criminals. Criminals can choose to work, and get paid minimum wage.

Xenia, you seem like a community minded kind of person. I order you to tidy up the rubbish I threw in the park this weekend, Ill give you a quid. Otherwise, no food for 3 months.

Yes that is the policy curly. Xenia I hope you lose your job soon. Id vote for you to be put in a chain gang and break rocks all day. Just you though.

hahaha!@ CustyDH..ooh you naughty man you! [it is strangely tempting though]

*it's not challenging..

its not increasing their knowledge,

it's not actually helping them into work or giving them real experience.*

They have a year to find work which is all of the above, this scheme is for people who had a chance to do it their way and either didn't bother or failed. It is not unreasonable to impose a time limit.

it rather depends on the kind of work they do, dh works with charities who are absolutley crying out for volunteers and would give a bloody good reference in return.

ok curly...as I said waste of money..just to make those bad old work-shy job-less work for that 65 quid a week...

Custy I think that would be great!!..working for charity doing a real job helping society, getting some experience with other working people not fucking picking up litter..

yeah! one place needs an odd job man - but can't afford to pay, another needs some gardening done etc. just takes some time.

if there is copius amounts of litter, then surely that is a job that should pay a wage?

whilst i thoroughlly agree with workwareesq principles, it really should not take another persons paid job

work with charities is a good thing

"it is what most people in the UK want who are funding those on benefits. Even if there is no benefit to the individual we still want it"

Speaking as a tax payer, I could be interested in such a scheme if it was well thought out, if it led to some permanent change in people's employability that would lead to fewer unemployable people, if it did not cost horrendous amounts to administer, and if it helped rather than hindered the charities/employers who took these people on, in other words something that was of benefit both to us taxpayers and to the unemployed. And if the problems of finding short term childcare were addressed.

But if it's going to be an expensive scheme whose only value is punitive, then I'm not interested.

"They have a year to find work which is all of the above, this scheme is for people who had a chance to do it their way and either didn't bother or failed. It is not unreasonable to impose a time limit."

It is surely feasible that they have failed for no other reason than there are just not enough jobs around? See lifeinlimbos figures above.

I'd like nothing better than to see the problem of the long term unemployed dealt with. But this isn't going to fix anything, nor do I believe it is intended to.

I work for myself. Every day I work hard at creating more work. No one can sack me.

I have no prblems litter picking. Last week near the equator I filled 21 bags with plastic bottles.

Xenia, presumably people can stop employing your services though.

can people kindly stop saying it's degrading to pick litter . It's a perefectly decent honest job.

also it's been proven (saw it on the one show so must be true ) less litter = less crime.

There are enough jobs around but they may not be what the unemployed person is used to, or else you have to be creative and take 2 part time jobs or become self employed. If faced with litter picking i'd become very self employed.
I find it amazing that I sell an expensive luxury good and am still struggling to produce enough to meet the demand during this so called down turn, it strikes me that the newly unemployed will have no problem at all sorting themselves out one way or another but those who have already been unemployed before 2007 are pretty much unemployable and so volunteering in exchange for benefits is probably the best thing that could happen to them to break the cycle.

Yes, they can but I am very diversified so it would be very very unlikely I'd come unstuck and I could do stuff like sell the island. But my point is if I were long term unemployed I wouldn't mind litter picking for £1 an hour. It's very satisfying. I enjoyed it last week. Shame I ran out of plastic bags.

Sorry who no distrespect meant to litter pickers..I'm just saying it should not just be one type of job..but a job that bebefits the client..

There are enough jobs around ...erm no there are not..

Well i obviously disagree with you their 50% of our social circle from the north east to harpenden were made redundant in 2008 and every one of them are in full time employment again.

*there not their.