Workfare – what does the evidence show?
contribution by Chris Goulden
Workfare has recently come under close scrutiny, and criticism aimed at some high-profile employers has culminated in a terse response from the Government.
Detractors condemn workfare as barely better than slave labour, while defenders claim it’s a valuable addition to other forms of help for unemployed people.
But what does the evidence say about whether workfare leads to better outcomes and less poverty?
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The real agenda behind Telegraph’s abortion investigation
The Daily Telegraph today splashes with an investigation into abortion – highlighting some examples of doctors agreeing to abortions on spurious grounds ‘no questions asked’.
There’s a key reason why this story is being pushed now, but first there’s a few points to be made about the story itself.
The first point – I think it’s completely wrong and immoral to abort a foetus because of the sex of the child. Female foeticide is common across South Asia and I’ve railed against it numerous times. It isn’t a surprise some minority communities do the same here too and it should be condemned.
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How Scotland Yard monitors prying bloggers and journalists
Although the police were happy to turn a blind eye to phone hacking at the News of the World, they’re making a habit of keeping tabs on innocent journalists and bloggers.
When a Freedom of Information (FOI) request is made it is meant to be dealt with “applicant and motive blind”.
But, Scotland Yard have a system in place where requests from journalists are flagged up. The ‘High Profile Request’ list is circulated to all internal departments in the police force, along with the full name of each requester.
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When disabled people want to work – employers can hold the back
contribution by Violet
Since becoming ill with a rare, chronic medical condition several years ago, I have been unemployed. Lately, I’ve been wondering if I could manage some work, so I have been looking for a job.
I’ve found it incredibly tough, despite the fact that I have a degree, postgraduate qualifications, and years of experience.
There are initiatives intended to help sick and disabled people at work: Access To Work and Positive About Disabled People, also known as the ‘two ticks’ scheme, which guarantee a disabled person an interview if they meet all essential criteria on a job spec.
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Revealed: the reality behind Workfare and why it doesn’t work
The government has spent all this week defending its exploitative Workfare programme, which forces unemployed people to get ‘work experience’ at companies for short periods of time. The ‘experience’ pays nothing and is usually mandatory – they risk losing even basic benefits unless they sign up.
But how effective is this programme really? Liberal Conspiracy was contacted by a consultant working in this industry. He told us the Workfare programme was, in his own words, “the biggest scam since records began”.
Here is roughly how it works.
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Job snob? No, I’ve got the T-shirt
One of the numerous job creation schemes of the Thatcher years was known officially as Employment Training, although the acronym was colloquially translated into ‘Extra Tenner’, because that was how much it paid on top of the dole.
These days, it seems, even an additional ten quid a week is a bit much to ask. Many of Britain’s most profitable employers are securing staff for nothing, with the state picking up the tab for Jobseekers’ Allowance and a bus pass.
Why country-by-country reporting matters to our wellbeing
I wrote yesterday about the arguments now going on in the EU about introducing country-by-country reporting for the extractive industries.
I have to say I am not objective on this issue since I created the concept of country-by-country reporting in 2003.
But I and many others maintain that country-by-country reporting (CbC) is important for the following reasons.
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If Unions want to become stronger, they need to modernise
Most people on the left are instinctively supportive of unions – collective bargaining and employee representation are the bedrock of left-wing politics after all.
But support for the union movement should not mean shying away from openly discussing the challenges they face.
It’s arguable that the case for stronger unions isn’t being made firmly and clearly enough, and the unions themselves are sometimes failing to adapt to changing circumstances.
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Why work “reforms” in Spain are a warning for workers across Europe
The Spanish trade unions have labelled it “the harshest and most aggressive employment legislation [of the post-Franco era]“.
Opposition parties are already planning to appeal to the country’s highest judicial body.
Depressing salaries, free dismissals and other gems – these are Spain’s right-wing solution to the economic crisis.
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Five things you need to know about the NHS bill
1 The bill will cost at least £2 billion
Estimates of the cost of implementing the Health and Social Care Bill range from the government’s £1.3 billion to Labour’s £3.5 billion, but most independent analysts estimate at least £2 billion.
The government claims the bill will save money in the long run but even the Conservative-led parliamentary health committee says this is unlikely unless standards of care are cut. £1 billion is being spent on redundancy for managers, only for many to be rehired as consultants.
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» The real agenda behind Telegraph’s abortion investigation
» How Scotland Yard monitors prying bloggers and journalists
» When disabled people want to work – employers can hold the back
» Revealed: the reality behind Workfare and why it doesn’t work
» Job snob? No, I’ve got the T-shirt
» Why country-by-country reporting matters to our wellbeing
» If Unions want to become stronger, they need to modernise
» Why work “reforms” in Spain are a warning for workers across Europe
» Five things you need to know about the NHS bill
» Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier. More Racist.
» Laziness levels in Britain getting lazier, wails government
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