Let’s reap the benefit of work scheme (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Let’s reap the benefit of work scheme
10:43am Tuesday 6th March 2012 in Margo Grimshaw column
By Margo Grimshaw, Lancashire Telegraph columnist
WHAT is the matter with the people in charge of the ‘Get them back to work’ scheme?
The young people sent to work for Tesco, or wherever, say it’s not fair that they are working for nothing, which of course is not true — they are working for the money we give them in benefits.
But it would probably make them feel better if, at the end of the week, they got their benefits in a wage packet, then they would realise the reality of the situation.
The firms that are giving them a chance of work experience are not, as some folk seem to think, getting cheap labour, for these young, inexperienced people need supervising and training, which is not the easiest of tasks when you are dealing with people who are not used to the disciplines, routines and confines of the work place.
I do hope the scheme is a success, as long term unemployment has the danger of becoming a way of life and that is soul destroying.
I have often thought that the Government could open some workshops, producing something simple, where both young men and women could get training in the complete manufacturing procedure to encourage them to start up small businesses, making things.
Once, we as a nation were massive manufacturers and maybe these youngsters would start an industrial renaissance.
Ah well, I can have my little dream, can’t I?
Bill is home and improving with each shining hour and we have had lots of visitors, but why, oh why, do we wait until there is an illness or an emergency before we show people we care.
We should not take things and life so much for granted, but look at the people we hold close and be glad.
Chatting to a lady, while waiting at the hospital, she said to me ‘I find the trouble as you get older is you suffer from metal fatigue’.
I said ‘I think you’ve got that wrong, don’t you mean mental fatigue’.
She replied ‘No, I mean you get silver in your hair, gold in your teeth and lead in your feet’!
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (9)
12:47pm Tue 6 Mar 12
Between_the_lions says...
Creating non jobs doesn't work. For evidence of this look to the public sector growth under Liebour. At the Town Halls it's 5 militants doing the work of two.
12:50pm Tue 6 Mar 12
Between_the_lions says...
3:45pm Tue 6 Mar 12
mavrick says...
6:03pm Tue 6 Mar 12
louderfasterlonger says...
If the kids were working for charities, I would agree with you but these kids would be working for VERY RICH shareholders.
The Work Houses were abolished years ago where the disenfranchised were forced to work for hours a day for a subsistence - which is what this scheme advocates.
When the kids tip out their board to their parents from their benefits (which would probably only just cover the child benefit they have lost), how much do you think they have left from working 35-40 hours ?
OUR CHILDREN ARE IN A STEADY DECLINE INTO CHRONIC LONG TERM POVERTY WITH VERY LITTLE PROSPECT OF IMPROVEMENT.
10:57pm Tue 6 Mar 12
ToffeeGuy says...
1 - Tesco etc can afford to and should pay a decent wage for anyone who works for them, when they rake in millions in profits.
2 - It has been reported that Workfare employees have been used to cover overtime etc over Christmas, therefore depriving full employees of this extra income when they need it most.
3 - If you haven't been on the scheme you can't comment on it.
3:26am Wed 7 Mar 12
I_Love_Mommy says...
6:22am Wed 7 Mar 12
louderfasterlonger says...
7:56am Wed 7 Mar 12
hunter3062 says...
2:01pm Fri 9 Mar 12
Joseph Yossarian says...
Should there not be a certain status quo - no free labour, no free money?
(Devils advocate position)