Tories to announce full workfare next week.

[Darkesteyes]

According to the Mail This just popped up in my Twitter feed.

twitter.com/SkyNews/status/383342225926524928/photo/1

None of these "initiatives" are about getting people into work - it's all just about getting the numbers down. But by giving free labour to companies they're reducing the number of real jobs available.

Cubed - the fact is, people on UK workfare are less likely to get a job than they would have been if the government had left them alone to actually look for work. It is costing taxpayers MORE to harass unemployed people - workfare keeps them out of work, it doesn't help them in. Those are not mere assertions, they are the results of the evaluation of the work programme.

Why would any sane person want to waste money keeping people out of work and treating them badly?

Only possible reasons are a. people don't understand that the programme is a disaster or b. you are a government minister determined to bash the unemployed and don't care how cruel you are being.

All that currently exists at job club. Cv help/skills/courses.... It's already in place

I went on a CV writing course through the Job club. I was the only one not compelled to do by the JSA agency. I wanted a job and was trying my hardest to get one but none of the others on the 3 day course was looking for work. They were either doing cash in hand jobs or were happy to be unemployed and they were all really annoyed that they were being made to go on the course or be penalised. I didn't finish the course because on day 3 I had an interview and got the job.

edam The fact (and it is an actual fact that I have seen first hand and not something I have read) some people wont look for a job if left to their own devices, they will happily claim JSA and mock the system and then laugh about it, thats not me being cruel, thats actually happening right now.

What about people that work and claim JSA at the same time. If they had to do workfare then they physically couldnt do both. Surely irradicating this will be beneficial.

As I have said in each of my posts it doesnt fit for everyone. Of course I understand the implications of it, if it goes wrong. Lets face it though, the system clearly isnt working now so what else should we do? Nothing? Maybe making JSA a smaller amount for those unwilling to do the workfare scheme and the full amount for those willing to? The actual fact is that there are people mocking the system and this is a massive drain that needs addressing, along with many other issues I might add.

I know my opinion is unpopular and I am comfortable with taking a flaming but things need to change.

cubed - but workfare doesn't actually DO anything about the situation you describe. The numbers have been crunched, properly and rigorously, and people on the work programme are less likely to get a job. Are you really happy as a taxpayer that you are handing over shedloads of cash to keep people on benefits and stop them getting work?

It's worth while discussing problems in the system, and how to encourage and support people back into work, but the work programme is not the answer. It is actively damaging and a massive waste of money.

It also cost £63m to introduce the programme - because the government had to end existing contracts with organisations trying to get people back into work. £63m just thrown away! National Audit Office