[Jack_]

The concept of meritocracy is a myth and has many flaws. It's not as simple as 'working your way up' as some people like to make out.

Regardless, these schemes that force the unemployed to work unpaid in return for their benefits is nothing other than disguised slave labour. And no one can live adequately off unemployment benefits alone, so anyone suggesting that is a fool. If you do an honest days work, you should be paid for it - I think it's that simple myself. It's sad that the unemployed are constantly scapegoated for a problem which isn't always theirs, and wasn't their fault. Not all of them are benefit scroungers, and lumping them all into the same category is ludicrous.

[Ammi]

I think this is open to too much exploitation...a decent days work is expected..but a decent wage is not given..it's not a very balanced scale. Maybe they could just work an appropriate portion of the day for the same money....that would be fairer

[arista]

Originally Posted by Ammi

I think this is open to too much exploitation...a decent days work is expected..but a decent wage is not given..it's not a very balanced scale. Maybe they could just work an appropriate portion of the day for the same money....that would be fairer

Its Nick Clegg that is Pushing this
he is LibDem.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Jack_

The concept of meritocracy is a myth and has many flaws. It's not as simple as 'working your way up' as some people like to make out.

Regardless, these schemes that force the unemployed to work unpaid in return for their benefits is nothing other than disguised slave labour. And no one can live adequately off unemployment benefits alone, so anyone suggesting that is a fool. If you do an honest days work, you should be paid for it - I think it's that simple myself. It's sad that the unemployed are constantly scapegoated for a problem which isn't always theirs, and wasn't their fault. Not all of them are benefit scroungers, and lumping them all into the same category is ludicrous.

Very True
Jack.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Jack_

The concept of meritocracy is a myth and has many flaws. It's not as simple as 'working your way up' as some people like to make out.

Regardless, these schemes that force the unemployed to work unpaid in return for their benefits is nothing other than disguised slave labour. And no one can live adequately off unemployment benefits alone, so anyone suggesting that is a fool. If you do an honest days work, you should be paid for it - I think it's that simple myself. It's sad that the unemployed are constantly scapegoated for a problem which isn't always theirs, and wasn't their fault. Not all of them are benefit scroungers, and lumping them all into the same category is ludicrous.

Fantastic post, agree with every word.

I think some people have too much of a knee jerk reaction whenever 'benefits' are mentioned...which is why quite a lot of people support this ridiculous idea of free labour for companies who could afford to pay these people for the same jobs...Some seem to have it in their heads that its the majority that are scroungers, when its not the case at all...its very much the minority.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Jack_

The concept of meritocracy is a myth and has many flaws. It's not as simple as 'working your way up' as some people like to make out.

Regardless, these schemes that force the unemployed to work unpaid in return for their benefits is nothing other than disguised slave labour. And no one can live adequately off unemployment benefits alone, so anyone suggesting that is a fool. If you do an honest days work, you should be paid for it - I think it's that simple myself. It's sad that the unemployed are constantly scapegoated for a problem which isn't always theirs, and wasn't their fault. Not all of them are benefit scroungers, and lumping them all into the same category is ludicrous.

Nicely put.

This scheme is open to blatant exploitation by multi million pound organisations. Many of the companies that use the scheme have a high turnover rate because they treat their staff so poorly. The opportunity for 'free' labour is one that they should never be allowed to exploit.