Alex Hern repeats what needs repeating: Workfare is not voluntary.
In Prime Minister’s Questions today, right-wing-even-for-the-Conservatives MP Priti Patel used her space on the ballot to launch a defence of workfare, attacking “the militant hard left” who oppose it.
She was supported by the prime minister, who defended the schemes by saying they were voluntary.
It was buried slightly at the bottom of our last post on the topic, so this bears repeating:
Workfare is not voluntary.
There are five government programmes which can be described as workfare, and all have a compulsory element to them:
The work experience programme
Citizens Advice describes the work experience programme as a “compulsory program”, saying:
If you are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, you must take part … if you are advised to do so by a personal adviser. Your benefit may be affected if you refuse to do so or leave a scheme before completing it.
Mandatory work activity scheme
The clue’s in the name, and Citizens Advice clarify:
If you are required to take part in the scheme, but you don’t without a very good reason, you will be sanctioned.
The work programme
Citizens Advice detail the groups who have to take part in the work programme; although further groups can volunteer, it is compulsory if:
• You are aged 18-24 and have claimed jobseeker’s allowance for nine months;
• You are aged 25 or over and have claimed jobseeker’s allowance for 12 months;
• You are seriously disadvantaged in the labour market, for example because a disability has made it hard to find work. When you qualify and whether you can choose to take part will depend on which area you live in and what your circumstances are;
• You have recently claimed incapacity benefit, after claiming jobseeker’s allowance for three months;
• You are claiming income-related employment and support allowance, are in the work-related activity group, and are expected to be fit for work within three months.
Sector based work academies
Directgov explains:
Taking part in sector-based work academies is entirely voluntary, but once you accept a place you must complete the process. Your benefits may be affected if you do not complete the process. Taking part in sector-based work academies can last up to six weeks.
Community action programmes
The DWP’s guidance booklet states (pdf):
Mandation is there to use as a tool to ensure that claimants do what is required of them… Claimants who are mandated to undertake activity may incur a loss or reduction of benefit should they fail to comply without good reason.
To see the full information collated by Left Foot Forward and Political Scrapbook, click here
See also:
• The information you need to end workfare – Alex Hern, February 22nd 2012
• Chris Grayling should respond to criticism of workfare, not smear the critics – Izzy Koksal, February 21st 2012
• Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare – Alex Hern, February 16th 2012
• Five reasons Clegg can’t stand on his social mobility record – Alex Hern, January 12th 2012
• 2012: The year ahead for young people – Alex Hern, January 7th 2012
31 Responses to “Workfare is not voluntary”
Kevin Richards
Make your mind up- is it voluntary or do you want your benefits stopping RT @leftfootfwd: Workfare is not voluntary http://t.co/9u7660Lc
Anonymous
Is it?
Labour when in power was paying out to people in Knightsbridge 172K a year of benefits.
Do you really think they had paid in more than that in NI in order to be able to get that in return?
Anonymous
More than they take out?
Free health care – paid for by others
Free schooling – paid for by others
Free housing – paid for by others
Free retirement – paid for by others
…
Do you honestly think that they have paid more in taxes than they have taken out? No they haven’t in lots of the cases.
This is being paid for in part by people in min wage having to be taxed 2.5K in NI and income tax. That is not right. That is im,oral.
Foyer Federation
The case against workfare http://t.co/W04UrGMn conditionality’s not a problem but we owe YoungPeople a much better deal. Invest2 #OpenTalent
Murray Christison
The scheme is not voluntary http://t.co/tmWmcwzq the UKIP guy may just be ill informed but Vaisy is bloody lying #bbcqt