Workfare '08

doctordunc Tue Jan 08, 2008 at 10:24:22 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Tories propose a new way for private companies to profit from tax payers and a way to punish those in most need



Where have the 'caring Conservatives' gone? That's right: it was always smoke and mirrors; spin and nothing.  David Cameron was an enthusiastic participant in the nastiest manifesto in living memory (Tories, 2005) and the Nasty Party is back today with a vengeance.

The problem of long-term unemployment is of course a very real one.  Unemployment was obviously a much greater problem when the likes of Cameron were running the economy but, for too many in society, there is a cycle of disadvantage, a stubborn culture of poverty that is very hard to break.

The Tory proposals will do nothing to help break it.  What we need is proper investment in training, re-skilling, social inclusion, social housing and tackling poverty.  What we don't need is to put the long-term unemployed on community service (which is a punishment we reserve for criminals)  nor to hand over the return to work to private companies who will profit from our taxes for coercing our citizens.  Some bemoan their taxes going to welfare 'scroungers' - how much more absurd that taxes should go into the back pockets of share-holders in companies designed to force the poor into useless tasks that will not help them into careers.

It is a disgraceful proposal from a disgraceful party.

Cameron would not be drawn on whether the convicts - sorry claimants - will have to wear uniforms (that will be up to the private companies, God forbid).  In Wisconsin (the 'Holy Grail' apparently) lone parents cannot claim benefit beyond two years, and healthy men cannot claim benefits at all, receiving food vouchers instead. 

These proposals would completely tear up the whole social deal inherent in the Welfare State and represent such a significant attack on decent values that no tory should be allowed to speak or write without being challenged on it.

No government should pay private companies to take mothers away from their children, to pick up litter in jumpsuits; no government should coerce men or women into 'back to work' camps.  The reality of this Nasty Party - its illiberal heart and its uncaring soul - has been laid bare, lest any of us had forgotten.



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Workfare '08 | 3 comments (3 topical)

Re: Workfare '08 (#1)

by treborc on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 11:03:02 AM GMT

I'm disabled, labour says 1.5 million disabled people should return to work, the Tories say that's wrong we think it's 200,000. Cameron is about right labours idea they can get 1.5 million disabled people into work, plus 800,000 people on JSA plus 3 million parents.

And Labour then says yes we have 660,000 jobs.

Are my math's that's bad or is 660,000 jobs insufficient to get 5 million people back into work the maths do not work out.

What does work out is getting 1.5 million disabled people onto JSA a much lower benefits which would save the government about £40 billion a year and place me into serious poverty.

Both parties are playing to the public.

In the past five years I've done the government training program it was free, it's not free anymore labour has now put a charge on training, for example they have asked Learn Direct to train the disabled, each disabled person must now pay up front £90, this labour thinks will force people to say in training, so far I've spent £200.

I still cannot find a job though.

life sucks.


Re: Workfare '08 (#2)

by swatantra on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 11:58:04 AM GMT

In fact both Parties are moving towards the same conclusion. We have to reassess periodically those on incapacity and those long term unemployed just to ensure that their circumstances have not changed, and that they may be in a position to return back to some sort of work.

But I would also go along with the proposal that the unemployed go into some form of community service, or 'voluntary' work. Thereby learning new skills and actually doing something for the community, instead of sitting at home getting depressed filling in job application forms.
The Wisconsin experience needs to be piloted here; there has to be a limit of two years when asubstantial review of benfits kicks in.
You don't solve some of these long term problems by not facing up to them, as some in the Party are suggesting. We have bigger problems on the horizon with an ever increasing older people and the social care they will need.
I am in favour of prisoners working out in the community and doing something useful and earning their keep at HM pleasure, on construction programmes roads etc, for  that they will need bright orange uniforms.
While I'm on this subject of Benefits, Child Benefit should be means tested or scrapped all together, not just taxed as Blunkett suggests.


Re: Workfare '08 (#3)

by treborc on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 08:01:46 PM GMT

My worry is the same as when Thatcher said we should be doing this type of work, how long would it take employers to see free workers. The idea of working in the community was stated when Thatcher was in power, it was pointed out that councils would see free workers, so would the NHS in fact it would cause unemployment, if you have hundred people picking up litter, why would you employ a street cleaner, people who clean graffiti off walls are normaly self employed, why pay him if you have free workers.


But also I have no legs, and other more serious problems imagine falling nearly 100ft you can understand why I spent 18 months in hospital.  I have in the past two years spent my own money to do the governments training programs they are not free.


Labour has made so many cut backs free re training has gone and this is a serious worry, I think this has more to do with reducing the benefits I get then finding me work.


because no matter how much skills I have the problem is i will need help to keep working, for example to stop having fits I need injections of morphine every four hours, would you employ somebody who takes or carries morphine.


Labour has to do more to make employers employ me, after 6 months do not forget anything I need has to be paid for by the employer.




Workfare '08 | 3 comments (3 topical)