End of welfare culture as young must work unpaid before claiming benefits

[Jazzy]

Young people will have to complete three months of work experience before they can claim unemployment benefits under Government plans to end the “something for nothing” welfare culture.



The plans are the first step toward establishing a “contributory” benefits system, where only those who have put something into society can expect payouts.

Chris Grayling, the work minister, and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, announced a pilot scheme which will involve about 6,000 people who have not worked for six months being forced to gain job experience.



The scheme will be rolled out nationwide next year. Mr Grayling said: “Many other countries don’t allow young people to claim any benefits at all until they have made contributions through a job.



“This trial will give a clear idea of the impact of an approach that says, effectively, you can’t get something back until you have put something in.”



He added: “Its time to look at a different way in Britain. A 'something for nothing’ culture does no one any favours. It makes those who are doing the right thing cynical. And for those who head straight into the welfare state, it sets them out in life on precisely the wrong footing.”



Areas that were hit by riots last summer, including Croydon and Haringey, will be among the first where the scheme is tested. Currently, people can claim benefits for at least six months before being pushed into back-to-work programmes. Unemployment benefit is worth £56 a week but claimants also qualify for a range of other handouts.



The Conservatives are expected to make further toughening of the welfare system the centrepiece of their next election manifesto.



Ministers are studying foreign benefits payments which often limit how long people can claim state payouts, or which attach other onerous conditions.



Official figures are expected to show that there are still hundreds of thousands of British households where no one has ever worked.



Teenagers from these homes often sign on to benefits as soon as they leave school, with little prospect of ever entering the workplace.



Under the new pilot scheme, those aged between 18 and 24 with less than six months history of paid work will have to complete 30 hours a week of work experience for three months. They will also be given training on writing a CV and interview technique. They will not receive benefits unless they attend the placements.

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Sound fair to you? Why or why not?

 

[Evil Eye]

It could work. All depends on where they're supposed to get this work experience.

If they just have to do normal jobs without getting paid, they'd be taking jobs from other people (because, let's face it, free employees are a great thing for a company). So that'd just make matters worse...

If the government actually creates jobs for them, though... It'd be perfect. People'd get work experience and the government would reduce spending.



It's not unfair, they're getting paid (in welfare). It all depends on how matters are handled of course.