State assisted work programs.
Unemployed? No, you won't get benefits for watching telly.

From Mon-Fri 10am-4pm you'll work in your local community.

Crews will do jobs to aid the town by painting civic buildings, cleaning beaches/public gardens/playgrounds and painting equipment, power hosing pavements and paths, cleaning graffiti, working in recycling centres and other jobs.

Cheap contracts could even be arranged with local businesses and work to help charities could be free. Churchyards weeded, mown and tidied. Elderly people could book crews to do their gardens, mend fences and other home jobs.

Attend the whole week or no benefits for you.

It'll never be as simple as that mind.
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 11:09, 11 replies)

Yes!
I've been saying this for years.
Even the 'disabled' can stuff envelopes at home.
(oneinthepink is at your cervix m'lady, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 11:16, closed)

I'd let the disabled off.
But those on jobseekers or the lowest form of incapacity. We'll provide jobs for you till you find a new one.
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 11:27, closed)

i might be wrong
but I assumed that the truly disabled would appreciate the opportunity to do something, even if it is only stuffing envelopes. if transport etc was provided, would get them out of the house, let them meet other people, etc. obviously for some wouldn't be an option, but some might find it fulfilling.
(fat stavros, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 12:31, closed)

They can do that now with volunteering.
Rather than have it forced upon them or lose their benefits.

I do see your point though.
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 13:01, closed)

You need to give people a day off per week to actually look for work.

But in general I like the idea. Not only do we get sparkly streets. Chav scumbags actually get to see that they are part of a community and that we are all interdependent.
(flimflam_machine, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 11:21, closed)

They'll have from 9-10 and 4-5 every day and all weekend.
Doesn't take 2 hours a day to read the paper, check the internet or attend the jobcenter.

And if they get an interview they just go to the crew leader with the date and time.

Edit: I agree about the community/interdependent bit
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 11:25, closed)

I am gonna get flamed
But i don't agree
If there are these jobs that need doing then why not create a proper job to do them that pays a decent wage. I believe people who get off there arse to do a job should get a decent livable wage out of it and not have to have it topped up by government handouts.
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 12:45, closed)

Well, my idea is a 25 hour working week.
At 6.50 an hour that's £162.50 a week.
I suppose it doesn't have to be 5 days a week, 3 would still work. Might even be better.
Payable fortnightly like Jobseekers.
£195 a fortnight minus tax so say around £150 a fortnight. Which isn't much more than Jobseekers is now. Plus one of those days could be class based. Learning to write CV's, Basic computer skills, refreshers on literacy and numeracy, book keeping, working on team building exercises or other crap they could pad a CV out with. Making them more employable and less likely to return to unemployment.
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 12:59, closed)

I have to agree.
Though I would actually go as far as trying to make the work pleasant and rewarding, if possible, and not any kind of slave labour.
I'd like to think some people would actually like to do some light, but meaningful, work to help the community in return for their dole cheque.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 23 Sep 2011, 18:38, closed)

I certainly didn't mean it to sound like slave labour.
I'm not talking whips and chains and orange jumpsuits.
( Maffers I flow kinda strange like Spina Bifida footprints, Sat 24 Sep 2011, 1:00, closed)

You didn't really make it sound like slave labour.
I was just labouring the point as I actually think it's a good idea if done correctly.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sat 24 Sep 2011, 12:26, closed)