Should people unemployed in Lincolnshire be forced to do community work?
Government ministers are proposing to force Lincolnshire people unemployed for more than two years to do community work or risk losing their benefits. The Work Programme project is being lined up to be trialled in the county before being rolled out across the rest of the country. Richard Wheeler finds out if this new scheme is seen as the solution…
Chris Walker graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2007 but started visiting the job centre after staff cuts forced him out of work.
The 25-year-old from Lincoln was unable to find the help he required so opted to return to university to complete a post-graduate course.
He is now in full-time employment at a York museum, although this was secured by his initiative rather than job centre help.
Mr Walker said it was wrong that everyone who arrived at the job centre was treated the same way – regardless of their skills.
And he believes the Government's idea of "scaring" people back into work by stopping their benefits was not the right approach.
Mr Walker said: "When visiting the job centre, there always seemed to be two distinct groups there.
"You could see that some people had been recently employed and were desperate for something, anything.
"They turned up neat, smart, punctually, with their paperwork in order.
"They're treated just the same as if they'd walked in 20 minutes late, half-dressed, with no paperwork.
"We all know there are plenty who consider the welfare state a job, plenty who don't deserve what they claim.
"By all means take them to task.
"But don't miss the fact that there are thousands of legitimate job-seekers out there – victims of redundancy, new graduates or those whose skills are massively underutilised.
"They are trying. And scaring them back into work with policies like this one won't work."
Government must be realistic...
Michael Self, Lincolnshire Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said the Government plan could work but it should not be used to “penalise people for being unemployed”.
He said: “Being unemployed is a very debilitating condition which, as well as making people poorer, also saps away at self-esteem and makes the habit of work even harder to get back into.
“If this programme helps people to get back into the rhythms of work, getting used to turning up on time, being ready to work and being reliable, then it may be helpful.
“However, I do hope that this is not just a way for government to penalise people for being unemployed.
“We are a little unlucky to be guinea pigs in Lincolnshire for this trial. I do hope that government remembers jobs are scarce.”
People need to feel valued...
Forcing people to work for their benefits is “totally the wrong direction” to help cut unemployment numbers, it is claimed.
Nick Parker, who works at the Jobcentre Plus call centre in Lincoln, said the Work Programme system would be a “disaster” for those seeking work and the staff helping them.
Speaking in his position as assistant branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union in Lincolnshire, Mr Parker said this was because the Government was pursuing its aims of privatising the public sector.
He said the cutbacks created additional pressures for staff who, as well as trying to help people, had their own worries.
Mr Parker continued: “In terms of help and support for those people unemployed for longer, what they need are staff who are motivated and not worried about their own jobs or obsessive targets, about having a decent pension and making ends meet.
“The way to solve unemployment is not to make people work for their dole money, which is lower than the minimum wage.
“What we need is well-paid jobs for people, which are socially useful.
“We need jobs in which there is an emphasis on proper training.
“I don’t think working for £53 a week will make you feel valued.”
77 Comments
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by saddletramp2
Monday, December 12 2011, 6:32PM
“Pittacus
There are only so many hours in a day and i already work over 12 hours per day 6 days a week and i have had heart surgery if your going to give me advice or sarcasm please be more constructive.As far as sympathy goes you know where to stick that too .
All the comments i have read from you on others posts have been arrogant attempts to belittle others so please don't waste your time commenting on any of my posts in the future as your wasting your precious time.”
by JacabusRex
Monday, December 12 2011, 4:42PM
“Since the government already pay a private sector company ATOS to carry out their DWP medicals then perhaps the government should think about privatising the DWP and Jobcenter Plus? I wonder thenen just how long far left trouble makers like Nick Parker and his commie cronies would get away under private ownership being on full pay and being allowed to push his far left poison around the place in his employers time which is at the moment paid by us the tax payer? Not long I would imagine; bring it on...”
by MMHB500
Monday, December 12 2011, 3:31PM
“2 years?!?!?! Why is this even being debated? We are not talking about people being 'Over qualified' or people with 'great work ethincs'? We are talking about the perpetually unemployed, the lackadaisical work shy parasites who are a drain on society - able, but not willing to find work.
Why is it so unreasonable to want these individuals to put something back into the community after over 700 days of purely extracing from it?
Who knows they might actually start to appreciate their community and understand all the hard work others do every day to sustain them!
2 years! Its crazy!”
by Pittacus
Monday, December 12 2011, 11:38AM
“@ Saddletramp. If you cannot afford to live on the wages you earn, then you are clearly living beyond your means and the onus is on you to do something about it. Either work longer hours or cut-down your living expenses but don't expect any sympathy.”
by saddletramp2
Sunday, December 11 2011, 7:47AM
“schlop
Quite honestly i feel your attitude towards £6 per hour being a liveable wage is rather arrogant to say the least with the rising cost of living going up daily,i earn more than £6 and hour 6 days per week and i am finding it hard making ends meet with fuel for the commuting,heating ,food etc. and there is only two in my household and we don't live a lavish lifestyle not even having holidays away going to the coast for the day so a family with children and a mortgage it must be even harder not everyone on low income live in council housing and get help with rent .I feel your comments are rather narrow minded and you need to go out into the real world rather than the world you think is out there.”
by Adrian1208
Sunday, December 11 2011, 1:54AM
“by schlop, i'am living a lifrstyle that I can afford, 2 cars, own house, holidays abroad etc!!
I just dont see how a man with a wife & 2 children you can afford to live, earning just £6hr???
That's just £234 Gross aweek before tax & national insurance”
by schlop
Saturday, December 10 2011, 7:28PM
“but Adrian, your making it sound like £6/hour is not enough to live on. If you live to your means then its more than enough to live off. It may mean you cant afford to go on lavish holidays, buy expensive cars or go on weekly shopping sprees for non essential items, but by no means does it mean that you are living in poverty!
Fool you for being so narrowminded about living off minimum wage, many people do it and cope fine, if you struggle its because your living a lifestyle that you cannot afford. Simple. And as for belittling those who do work for £6/hour - most of these people don't have a choice on what wage they earn, especially if you work in retail for example, but they are lucky enough to have a job in this day and age, and your attitude towards this, quite frankly, stinks.”
by Adrian1208
Friday, December 09 2011, 11:00PM
“Freedom of speech
What I am saying is a job & that's any job should pay enough money to be able to live on it.
Don't you aggree??????????????????”
by Adrian1208
Friday, December 09 2011, 10:41PM
“If you watch Young Apprentice with Alan Sugar BBC1
Alan Sugar gave his opinion on young people of today, I know there is a minority of young people who wont & don't want to work, most want GCSE's, A Levels, university education followed by a career!!
I have 2 adult children & this is the path they have both chosen.”
by Leaflet Distribution Lincolnshire
Friday, December 09 2011, 8:58PM
“Freedomofspeech my boss works beside me, in the same weather and doing the same job as me and because he sets a good example i am prepared to work hard for my £6 an hour. I do not feel foolish. The more we deliver, the more orders he can take on and the more hours i get thus assuring me of a steady job. There's a lot to be said for having a steady job.
What's wrong with working hard for a fair wage ? I enjoy it”