Unemployed trial slave labour.

[Gary L]

Despite high levels of unemployment due to the recession jobseekers in Greater Manchester will be forced to work up to 40 hours a week as part of the Work for Your Benefits (WfYB) pilot scheme. The region is set to be the trialling ground for a government initiative that will see unemployed people put into mandatory work placements for up to six months just to hold on to their Jobseeker’s Allowance.

From October Jobseekers who have failed to find a job at the end of the Flexible New Deal programme will be required to undertake full time employment for between £50 and £65 a week, the equivalent of as little as £1.27 an hour. Concerns have already been raised that, with the numbers of unemployed rising, people who genuinely cannot find a job will be forced to work for next to nothing in an unsuitable role.

Whilst I agree that something has to be done. this is not the answer.
you can't force someone to work up to 40 hours a week for the equivalent of £1.27 an hour.

the scheme would be abused and be used to what will only be free slave labour to companies.

the council could use these slaves and get rid of their own staff that they would have been paying at least 6 times more an hour for the same work.

you would even have them same workers back doing the same job but only as a slave working for £1.27 an hour.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/03/447177.html

[injuneer]

Ah, the Victorians would be proud. We'll have workhouses next.

[Derek]

At least they are doing something to try and ensure the long term unemployed can't just sit about waiting for their giro to come through the letterbox.

I know there are plenty of people unemployed who want to work but there are also plenty who choose not to and get away with it.

Originally Posted by Derek S

At least they are doing something to try and ensure the long term unemployed can't just sit about waiting for their giro to come through the letterbox.

I know there are plenty of people unemployed who want to work but there are also plenty who choose not to and get away with it.

Aye, can imagine them on the beat for £1.27 an hour, gets my vote
Might bring my council tax down.

[Druchii]

If there is additional work that needs to be done, which will be supplied by what is essentially slave labour... why are there not job postings which people can apply for, at a fair wage?

Are we seeing "There is work to be done, but i don't want to pay you minimum wage to do it" becoming a reality with this?

Wouldn't the minimum wage laws come in to this?

Originally Posted by dgardner

Wouldn't the minimum wage laws come in to this?

Apparently not if you believe what is being reported.

Sounds like a bloody good idea to me. Far too many people have been getting *something for nothing* for far too many years, and should thus be the first off their asses and into this scheme.... Unfortunately, as usual, it will be the genuine worker getting shafted. While the lazy, leeching barstewards that have no interest in ever doing a turn who will make this scheme a laughing stock....

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

Sounds like a bloody good idea to me. Far too many people have been getting *something for nothing* for far too many years, and should thus be the first off their asses and into this scheme.... Unfortunately, as usual, it will be the genuine worker getting shafted. While the lazy, leeching barstewards that have no interest in ever doing a turn who will make this scheme a laughing stock....

Indeed, telling job centre staff that you cannot face the world without your daily four pack of extra strong beer does the treat, they are soon off your back and onto a more easier target.

[Gary L]

Will they differentiate between those that don't want to work and those that do?

what's the point of a legal minimum wage?

what jobs will they have to do for a mere £1.27 an hour?
if they're just basic cleaning jobs then does that make the job role a degrading one?

40 hours is far too much. you won't have time to find a 'proper' job.
looks like you'll be a slave forever.

Originally Posted by Derek S

At least they are doing something to try and ensure the long term unemployed can't just sit about waiting for their giro to come through the letterbox.

I know there are plenty of people unemployed who want to work but there are also plenty who choose not to and get away with it.

do you think any of them will do a good job?

lets force the unemployed to work for £1.27 and lets see what kinda standard of work you get done

I know for a fact I would deliberately screw up everything I possibly could. If it was warehouse I would pick wrong if it was labouring I would deliberately make a mess and break stuff . I would make sure one way or another whoever is treating me like a "slave" regretted the day they took me on

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by dgardner

Wouldn't the minimum wage laws come in to this?

I think the human rights laws will too.

[dilligaf1701]

I'll be interested to see what job they come up with for me when it's done down here.

[Spectato]

Seems like a particularly stupid idea to me.
Devaluing the jobs of those already working, and ultimately causing more job losses, unless we're all suddenly prepared to work for £1.30 an hour?
Who's going to pay a full wage when they can have slaves?

If you're working then you're no longer 'unemployed' and deserve to be paid a proper wage (and less or no benefits).

Somehow though, you'd kind of expect a story this provocative to have broken beyond the confines of the Manchester Mule!

[Peter_]

That is completely insane and will fail miserably as anyone forced to take this kind of job will in most cases do as zing says above and will not be cost effective causing any employer foolish enough to join this scheme the potential to lose any contracts this cheap labour is employed on.

I would expect it to be quietly wound up with the minimum of fuss as they realise how much of a failure this scheme actually was and the problems it will cause.