The DWP to scrap MWP & CWP schemes.

patman99

After much pressure from groups such as 'Boycottworkfare', the DWP has announced it is to scrap the much-abused (by employers) Mandatory Work Program & Community Work Programs.

This is good news all-round (unless you are Tesco, B&M or Poundland and will now need to PAY for staff to fill your vacancies instead of having a revolving door of unemployed people to work for free).

This news means that there may well be over 40,000 retail jobs becoming available over the next few months as companies who have been shedding paid staff will now no longer have unpaid workers to work for them.

This action alone, could well save in excess of £1Bn off the benefits bill.

specialboy

Do you have a link to that please?

agrinnall

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-scraps-mandatory-work-for-your-benefits-scheme-without-fanfare-a6750041.html

tomtontom

The scheme is being replaced with a new one. This happens every few years - one scheme fails, another comes along with a new name but exactly the same substance, and usually the same bunch of suppliers. In reality claimants will see very little change.

specialboy

I do some work for a charity shop and they get loads of 'volunteers' sent to them via these schemes, I personally think it's out of line that the taxpayer is picking up the tab for these profit making businesses to benefit like this. I'd much rather see localised schemes set up whereby people could be sent to do work in their local communities overseen by professionals who could help them brush up their skills.

Londonsu

specialboy wrote: »

I do some work for a charity shop and they get loads of 'volunteers' sent to them via these schemes, I personally think it's out of line that the taxpayer is picking up the tab for these profit making businesses to benefit like this. I'd much rather see localised schemes set up whereby people could be sent to do work in their local communities overseen by professionals who could help them brush up their skills.

Yet, a friend of mine was put on a scheme by the JC, she was encouraged (not mandated) to volunteer at a homeless centre, last week she was taken on full time with a higher than min wage salary. That job was not advertised outside the JC when she went for the volunteering interview she was the only one of 4 who had agreed to try out for the position who actually turned up, no doubt the other 3 are still on the dole.


I manage a charity shop, (we don't take mandated workers), I got my job at age 59 in unemployment black spot because I had volunteered in one whilst I was out of work total career change and taking home less a month than I used to pay in tax and NI every month but its a job which I love .


I don't think its out of line for charity shops whose 'profits' are raised to fund vital research etc to take on mandated volunteers after all they are not replacing paid workers as most charity shops only pay their managers and asst managers ( I only know of one national charity shop chain who rely solely on volunteers) , the reason I personally don't use them is that I have heard too many stories of attitude and the like, I do however have volunteers who are on JSA and who want to volunteer, these people get their fares paid by me, get training, get interview clothes and get jobs (so I have to start the process all over again )


Give me pensioners (like my hubby) who willingly volunteer after 40 odd years of working or people on JSA who actually want to get work experience over people who only do it so their money doesn't get stopped and who would rather sit on their backsides instead of doing ANYTHING to gain work experience.

ohreally

patman99 wrote: »

This news means that there may well be over 40,000 retail jobs becoming available over the next few months

You think.

mro

Londonsu wrote: »

Yet, a friend of mine was put on a scheme by the JC, she was encouraged (not mandated) to volunteer at a homeless centre, last week she was taken on full time with a higher than min wage salary. That job was not advertised outside the JC when she went for the volunteering interview she was the only one of 4 who had agreed to try out for the position who actually turned up, no doubt the other 3 are still on the dole.


I manage a charity shop, (we don't take mandated workers), I got my job at age 59 in unemployment black spot because I had volunteered in one whilst I was out of work total career change and taking home less a month than I used to pay in tax and NI every month but its a job which I love .


I don't think its out of line for charity shops whose 'profits' are raised to fund vital research etc to take on mandated volunteers after all they are not replacing paid workers as most charity shops only pay their managers and asst managers ( I only know of one national charity shop chain who rely solely on volunteers) , the reason I personally don't use them is that I have heard too many stories of attitude and the like, I do however have volunteers who are on JSA and who want to volunteer, these people get their fares paid by me, get training, get interview clothes and get jobs (so I have to start the process all over again )


Give me pensioners (like my hubby) who willingly volunteer after 40 odd years of working or people on JSA who actually want to get work experience over people who only do it so their money doesn't get stopped and who would rather sit on their backsides instead of doing ANYTHING to gain work experience.

"Volunteering" should be voluntary.

Nobody in that sector should use that term if they take forced labour.


There are stories here, there & everywhere, they are all individuals and should be considered as such.


Would all "pensioners" be same as your hubby, I don't think so, more problems of different kind.

27col

mro wrote: »

"Volunteering" should be voluntary.

Nobody in that sector should use that term if they take forced labour.


There are stories here, there & everywhere, they are all individuals and should be considered as such.


Would all "pensioners" be same as your hubby, I don't think so, more problems of different kind.

Maybe not all pensioners. But a hell of a lot of them. Some are running organisations like Bowls Clubs, and other facilities and charities etc. But there are an awful lot of us out there doing our bit for the benefit of others. The one thing that we have in common is that we are all volunteers.

BigAunty

specialboy wrote: »

I'd much rather see localised schemes set up whereby people could be sent to do work in their local communities overseen by professionals who could help them brush up their skills.

Wasn't it the case that many of the recent schemes did arrange for JSA claimants to work in their local communities overseen by professionals, such as charity shops and the like? The professionals were the ones placing them and then others supervising them, like the managers at their actual placement? Or am I misunderstanding?

I know there is backlash against the Poundland placements but they were still local positions where the volunteeer was managed and should have given them the opportunity to brush up on their customer service skills? (I'm not a particular supporter of this scheme, just saying that it falls within the general definition of what you are proposing).

There was a guy who recently posted on the Discussion forum that was placed in a community centre that cooked meals for the elderly and he was offered a paid position there. He enjoyed his placement but another JSA claimant would have regarded the offer of the placement as insulting.

The problem is (based on feedback I've read on MSE from those affected) that the JSA claimants essentially feel they are forced to do these roles, that they find them demeaning and humiliating, that they see them as unpaid labour, unfulfilling work and insufficient to help them into paid positions.

So I'm not sure that even if you up the 'local' , 'community', 'skills' and 'professional' aspects that you have outlined, that they will any more popular or successful.

To me, the whole issue is that the JSA claimant is compelled to do them and the mandatory element is not going away anytime soon.

red_devil

No surprise big waste of time. Punishment not help. Even people on community service don't have to do work for that long.

Charities have been distancing themselves too as people have stopped donating to charities that exploit people.