[GypsyGoth]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

They are for the majority. A couple of people abuse the system yeah, but there is abuse in ALL systems. I really don't get the need to punish the majority for the actions of the minority tbh. Which is what making the 'long term' (6 months...really?) unemployed do community service is really...

But I don't think it's a punishment. It's an idea to get people back into work.

Originally Posted by Josy

There is no jobs for people though so it's through no fault of their own that they cant get one, okay there is some that takes advantage of the system but that's always happened, to treat jobseekers as criminals for not being able to find employment within 6 months is just ridiculous, Community Service has always dealt with cleaning graffiti, painting council properties etc now they want to send jobseekers out to do it, what are the real criminals going to be doing?

And saying that jobseekers are 'taking money from the government for doing nothing' is pretty offensive to those on benefits imo, it's called benefit for a reason and is there to help people between jobs, a large majority of these people have worked and paid stamps all of their lives and now because there's no work they are treated as criminals and or scroungers? absolutely ridiculous.

And how are these people supposed to search for a real job if they are out doing this community service?

I don't think this is for the people who are between jobs. This is for people who have been long term unemployed.

And I don't see things like tiding up your community as the work of criminals. But if y'all see that as the work of criminals then there's nothing to debate on that point.

Having people do lets say a weeks work, even 20 hours a week picking up the litter on a beach. If we look at the good this could do, it would catch out the people who are actually working and collecting benefits, as they couldn't keep their cash-in-hand job while doing this. People appalled by the idea might go take a different job rather than do work for their benefits.

Those actually looking for a job could be helped and exempt from doing this.