Unemployment and Benefits

[DaveR]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20905415

"Under Labour's plan, the long-term unemployed would be offered 25 hours of work a week at the national minimum wage for six months. Those who did not accept the offer of a suitable job faced having their benefits cut."

 

[Ian]

Although it appears new, that plan has been rattling around Whitehall since at least the mid-term of Blair's administration. Like the coalition's schemes, however, it's beset by multiple issues of implementation. The only to make it work completely would be to return to the German approach of the early '30s.

[Hugo]

Although it appears new, that plan has been rattling around Whitehall since at least the mid-term of Blair's administration. Like the coalition's schemes, however, it's beset by multiple issues of implementation. The only to make it work completely would be to return to the German approach of the early '30s.

What approach did the Germans take then Ian?    A countries greatest resource is its workforce but if the people are not working then it's a waste of an asset.
It should motivate those people who are actively looking for work and be a kick up the backside for anyone who doesn't want to work.

[Ian]

Hitler set all the unemployed to building roads - no doubt with a view to his future aspirations :-))))

[Hugo]

A good use of resources but perhaps for the wrong reasons.   When we do create work we give the contracts to Foreign companies which doesn't make any sense either.

[Ian]

I suspect that might have something to do with the way the government's five-year rolling education policy determined - in the '80s - that we had to have a predominantly degree-led work force, as it was thought everyone would need a degree by 2000. Sadly, it appears, it's only belatedly being acknowledged that not everyone is suited to academia, and the country needs a work force to do things like building.

[Fester]

I suspect that might have something to do with the way the government's five-year rolling education policy determined - in the '80s - that we had to have a predominantly degree-led work force, as it was thought everyone would need a degree by 2000. Sadly, it appears, it's only belatedly being acknowledged that not everyone is suited to academia, and the country needs a work force to do things like building.

Yes indeed, when I was training in Management and I enquired as to why more of my colleagues weren't applying for the process, I was told 'there needs to be people who put beans INTO the tins'

 

[Fester]

The article below is a stark message on how badly and unfairly the country is being run.

[Hugo]

That's disgusting Fester and it's about time that Cameron capped all benefits at £26K as he promised.        :rage: :rage:

[DaveR]

£26k is pretty generous, really, given average earnings in the local area.

[born2run]

Always a shame to disrupt the right wing fist shaking contest with the truth...

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/immigration-the-real-story/

"Research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission dispels the myth that immigrants jump the social housing waiting list. This found that 60 per cent were privately renting, 18 per cent were owner occupiers, and only 11 per cent were allocated social housing. The research found no evidence of abuse of the system nor of ‘queue jumping’. "

[Hugo]

Utter rubbish as usual.       Statistics can be manipulated in many ways to suit your point of view but the examples Fester has highlighted are factual unless you know different!   

[Fester]

Indeed Hugo, the examples are factual, and therefore abhorrent.

If each of the 9 kids in the family quoted have 9 kids each, that is 81 more people that must be supported on this Isle which is getting no bigger.
It is entirely unsustainable.

[Hugo]

"Research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission dispels the myth that immigrants jump the social housing waiting list. This found that 60 per cent were privately renting, 18 per cent were owner occupiers, and only 11 per cent were allocated social housing. The research found no evidence of abuse of the system nor of ‘queue jumping’. "
[/quote]

Fester, you never mentioned once about queue jumping in your article so I don't know where the above nonsense has come from.  What you have highlighted is the injustice in the benefits system that allows foreign nationals to live a life of luxury here that they would not experience in their own country but at the same time  it deprives UK born citizens of a fair and just system.

[Merddin Emrys]

Not surprisingly, I'm agreeing with Fester and Hugo on this, this Redpepper thing seems to be from the communist party!