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Workfare: nobody loves it like ministers Workfare: nobody loves it like ministers
(about 2 hours later)
There was a desperate eyes-closed, hands-covering-ears hyperbole from ministers, even as they announced their climbdown over the controversial "workfare" experience scheme: "The kids love it, the public love it, companies love it and we love it," declared the work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith. In truth, only the last part of that statement was really true.There was a desperate eyes-closed, hands-covering-ears hyperbole from ministers, even as they announced their climbdown over the controversial "workfare" experience scheme: "The kids love it, the public love it, companies love it and we love it," declared the work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith. In truth, only the last part of that statement was really true.
Over the past few weeks, the "kids" have made it transparently clear they didn't love it, and neither for that matter did the public. Companies and charities – now sensitised to the power of Facebook and Twitter – were not slow to pick up the enormous groundswell of anger and incredulity that such famous brands could be involved in something popularly regarded as blatantly unfair and exploitative.Over the past few weeks, the "kids" have made it transparently clear they didn't love it, and neither for that matter did the public. Companies and charities – now sensitised to the power of Facebook and Twitter – were not slow to pick up the enormous groundswell of anger and incredulity that such famous brands could be involved in something popularly regarded as blatantly unfair and exploitative.
As demonstrators invaded Tesco branches, ministers railed against "Trotskyists" and "job snobs" and disparaged "left wing commentators" in an attempt to rally support. Last weekend the former boss of Marks & Spencer was wheeled out to urge employers to show "backbone" over work experience. But by then the game was lost. As demonstrators invaded Tesco branches, ministers railed against "Trotskyists" and "job snobs" and disparaged "leftwing commentators" in an attempt to rally support. Last weekend, the former boss of Marks & Spencer was wheeled out to urge employers to show "backbone" over work experience. But, by then, the game was lost.
Employers had decided the punitive aspects of the work experience scheme were a reputational hazard. Few were averse to the principle or spirit of work experience; but none, especially the charities, could in the end live with the idea that a young person is compelled to carry through with an unpaid "voluntary" placement of up to eight weeks or face a sanction – the removal of two weeks' unemployment benefit.Employers had decided the punitive aspects of the work experience scheme were a reputational hazard. Few were averse to the principle or spirit of work experience; but none, especially the charities, could in the end live with the idea that a young person is compelled to carry through with an unpaid "voluntary" placement of up to eight weeks or face a sanction – the removal of two weeks' unemployment benefit.
That scale of loss, the children's charity Barnardo's said, would tip youngsters on the edge of poverty into destitution.That scale of loss, the children's charity Barnardo's said, would tip youngsters on the edge of poverty into destitution.
Anne Marie Carrie, chief executive of Barnardo's, which trains 3,000 young people a year, said it was "entirely reasonable" that youngsters who were trying to find their way may struggle and decide to leave after a couple of weeks. "I believed it was punitive that at this stage they could lose their benefits for a scheme that they had entered into voluntarily," she said.Anne Marie Carrie, chief executive of Barnardo's, which trains 3,000 young people a year, said it was "entirely reasonable" that youngsters who were trying to find their way may struggle and decide to leave after a couple of weeks. "I believed it was punitive that at this stage they could lose their benefits for a scheme that they had entered into voluntarily," she said.
According to one attendee at the meeting between ministers and employers, the two-hour discussion was "amicable and constructive". But it was made clear that dropping sanctions was the price of employers' continued support for the entire scheme.According to one attendee at the meeting between ministers and employers, the two-hour discussion was "amicable and constructive". But it was made clear that dropping sanctions was the price of employers' continued support for the entire scheme.
There are suggestions that the government may have been taken aback by their implacability. The employment minister Chris Grayling realised he had no choice but to acquiesce to their demands. There are suggestions that the government may have been taken aback by their implacability. The employment minister, Chris Grayling, realised he had no choice but to acquiesce to their demands.
Ministers argue that sanctions are still relatively rare – just 220 were issued out of 34,000 work experience placements for 16-to-24-year-olds between January and November 2011. But this has been a presentational disaster for the government, which has struggled pitifully to convince the public that its work experience scheme for youngsters is either voluntary or reasonable. "The government seem to be making this up as they go along," jeered the shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne. Ministers argue that sanctions are still relatively rare – just 220 were issued out of 34,000 work experience placements for 16- to-24-year-olds between January and November 2011. But this has been a presentational disaster for the government, which has struggled pitifully to convince the public that its work experience scheme for youngsters is either voluntary or reasonable. "The government seem to be making this up as they go along," jeered the shadow work and pensions secretary, Liam Byrne.
But while it leaves the coalition embarrassed, it is a relatively minor concession in the context of the government's welfare-to-work strategy. Ministers still believe sanctions are an essential tool to persuade claimants to take work experience and job placements seriously.But while it leaves the coalition embarrassed, it is a relatively minor concession in the context of the government's welfare-to-work strategy. Ministers still believe sanctions are an essential tool to persuade claimants to take work experience and job placements seriously.
Punishments will continue to operate in the other two government-run work experience schemes, and through the work programme, most notoriously for disabled and chronically sick people on employment support allowance. Sanctions will continue to bite.Punishments will continue to operate in the other two government-run work experience schemes, and through the work programme, most notoriously for disabled and chronically sick people on employment support allowance. Sanctions will continue to bite.