Harsh rules to drive the long-term unemployed into work come into force today, which state they will only receive their benefits if they either show up at a jobcentre every day or commit to six months of voluntary work. 
Those who fail to comply with the rules, which also offer signing up to a training scheme as a third option, will have their jobseeker’s allowance docked for four weeks for the first offence, and 13 weeks for the second.
Under the previous system, people were only required to attend a jobcentre once a fortnight so the move is likely to see long queues of people lining up to sign on every day.
The stringent measures announced today by the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, under the heading Help to Work, reflect his conviction that there is work for the unemployed, if they can be induced, by a combination of encouragement and sanctions, to wean themselves off welfare.
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Jobless must sign on every day: Government to dock money from long-term unemployed if they do not comply – UK Politics – UK – The Independent.
Related articles
Job Market Monitor 
Discussion
No comments yet.