Well, I'll put myself forward to be shot. Unsurprisingly, the media view is hardly impartial.
This was discussed on Radio 2 on Monday, between an MP and a member of the Socialist Workers Party. It is available to listen to online.
The points that I picked up were;

It's voluntary. (That doesn't seem unfair, and certainly puts paid to the ‘slave labour’ comments).

They can try a placement for 4 days and see if they like it and if it will be of any benefit. (Still doesn't seem unfair).

After 4 days they can either leave, and keep their benefits, or commit to staying for 4 weeks. (I wish I could try a job for a few days before committing to it).

If they leave within those 4 weeks you may lose your benefits. (Still doesn't seem all that unfair. They have after all committed to staying for 4 weeks).

After completing 4 weeks they may be offered a job (win), will be able to put the experience on their CV (of greater benefit than ‘spent 4 weeks playing COD’), and may have experienced working in an different industry (can’t see how that would be bad thing).

Yes the companies are getting free labour, but due to their size they have the capacity to offer placements, and they are committing to training and providing experience to the candidate.
(jono_h, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 19:10, 1 reply)

(sigh)
"Yes the companies are getting free labour, but due to their size they have the capacity to offer placements, and they are committing to training and providing experience to the candidate."

Alas Tesco are neither employing the people after their placement is up or offering training beyond "this is a can, that is a shelf. Get on with it".

Once someone's placement is up all too many are interviewed and told no jobs available, door's on your left. Only to be replaced the next day by another placement worker paid for by thee and I.

Oh, and the voluntary ?
Of course it is. You don't _have_ to say yes.
It's just that if you say No you lose your income.
( DukeEuphoria Comes highly reccomended, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 20:17, closed)

^this.
Sorry Jono, but there's a big divide between what people/politicians are saying, and the reality. I'm not basing my assumptions on the 'media view', but on the experiences of my brother and at least another 10 acquaintances who fell into this.

1. "It's voluntary and they can quit." That's the idea, but if they quit it has to be for a genuine reason- and that's got to be more "My boss poured bleach down my trousers" than "I'm being exploited in lieu of them employing someone." If you don't have a valid reason, the job centre will issue you a warning for being uncooperative and "Not trying to find work." The result? Loss of benefits. It's clever as it's not directly the refusal which loses your benefits, but rest assured, you will be penalised.

2. "Offered a job and put on CV." Yes, if they were offering jobs- which they aren't. Tesco had tens of thousands on placement last year, and gave out just 400 jobs. Similarly, as DukeEuphoria mentioned, the skills aren't really worth boasting about.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 21:02, closed)

Sivvus,

Thanks for the real world perspective. I appreciate that my comments were based on a very limited source.

I still don't think that 4 weeks is a particulalrly long time to take part, whether voluntary or not, and if I'm ever in the position of having to employ someone I'd hope that the person that has got off their arse and done 4 weeks 'unpaid' work would be a better prospect than the person who sat around doing Sweet FA.

I would also concur that if you are a recently unemployed Scientist, Engineer, Nurse etc, this scheme would be a pile of wank.
(jono_h, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 21:42, closed)

Yes, I agree with that in principle.
Like I said in the OP, it's not the concept I have issues with, it's the fact it's been so badly corrupted.

Thanks for such a polite response, very refreshing on t'net! Sorry if mine sounded annoyed. :P
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 22:16, closed)