[Mrluvaluva]

A graduate who was forced to work at Poundland for free has won an appeal, in a blow for the Government's back-to-work schemes.

Cait Reilly, 24, from Birmingham, had argued that being made to work in the discount shop for nothing while she looked for a permanent job was illegal.

Jamieson Wilson, 40, an unemployed lorry driver from Nottingham who was stripped of jobseeker's allowance for refusing an unpaid cleaning role, also won his legal challenge.

Lord Justice Pill, Lady Justice Black and Sir Stanley Burnton, sitting in London, ruled that the regulations behind most of the back-to-work schemes were unlawful and quashed them.

The pair's solicitors claimed the ruling meant anyone docked jobseeker's allowance for not complying with the schemes could demand the money back.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has vowed not to repay anyone who had not been seriously trying to find work and said it was looking at "options" to avoid paying out.

Miss Reilly was forced to leave her voluntary post at a museum to work unpaid at Poundland in Kings Heath, Birmingham, in November 2011 under a scheme known as the "sector-based work academy".

She was told she would lose jobseeker's allowance if she refused and spent two weeks stacking shelves and cleaning floors.

Mr Wilson, a qualified mechanic, was told that he had to work unpaid, cleaning furniture for 30 hours a week for six months, under a scheme called the community action programme.

He objected to doing unpaid work that would not help him re-enter the jobs market and refused, leading to him losing jobseeker's allowance for six months.

Following the ruling, Miss Reilly said: "I don't think I am above working in shops like Poundland. I now work part time in a supermarket. It is just that I expect to get paid for working.

"I agree we need to get people back to work but the best way of doing that is by helping them, not punishing them."

Following the ruling, Labour accused the coalition of being "incompetent" and unions hailed Miss Reilly a "hero" as they called for the programmes to be scrapped.

But the Government pointed out that the judges had agreed requiring people to join the schemes was legal, meaning they could continue.

Employment minister Mark Hoban said it would appeal the ruling while also drafting new regulations immediately to remove "any uncertainty".

"Ultimately the judgment confirms that it is right that we expect people to take getting into work seriously if they want to claim benefits," he said.

Public Interest Lawyers, which represented both claimants, called the decision a "huge setback" for the DWP.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: "It beggars belief that David Cameron's Government is now so incompetent it can't even organise work experience."


Sky

At least someone can see sense and has done something about it.

[Tom4784]

It was stupid to get her to leave a voluntary position in a sector she was qualified to work in to work in a voluntary position in Poundland. How was that meant to help her? The whole scheme is illogical.

[Nedusa]

She was forced to work in this shop unpaid and without any prospect of her ever capitalising on this work as she already had voluntary work in her chosen field. This work in pound land was utterly pointless to her and unpaid to boot. I'm glad she won her case and will get payment for her efforts. Otherwise this scheme is just slave labour dressed up as youth opportunities....!!!!

[joeysteele]

No matter the huffing and puffing by the Govt on this, the ruling is against them and in time they will do a re-think, dressing it up however as some new initiative.
Yet another thing wrong as to strategy with this Govt. in relation to to schemes like this.

I think a lot more is likely to come as wrongs against people from this Govts. policies in the future too.

[Kizzy]

I watched the news item on it and it was so horribly biased I was shocked...
they just want people to work for the firms who have signed up to the scheme so they have a regular stream of 'work experience'candidates.
It is a scam, it is surely though a false economy?...
If these organisations are not taking on paid employees and relying soley on these 'volunteers' then how is that helping the economy, nobody has any money to spend and it prevents people from getting the work as free labour saves millions?

[Cherie]

Yes most certainly a scam, giving free labour and saving a fortune in benefits at the same time. It wouldnt suprise me to find these companies had given big fat donations in return for the years of free labour they would have got if this had not been challenged

[King Gizzard]

Good on her, this and the JCP actually recommending thousands to set up hopeless self employment businesses that will ultimately fail are just some of the ways the government is cheating the unemployment statistics

[Mrluvaluva]

These companies could actually be taking people on in employable positions and in fact getting the unemployment statistics down somewhat. These government schemes only benefit themselves. They won't benefit the individual in the short term and neither the "employer" in the long. People need, training, stability and incentives. Schemes like this just take the pis.s.

[lostalex]

I agree with the courts decision, i don't think people should be forced to work for free at private companies. BUt i think it would be okay if they were forced to work for public services, like the police, or libraries or post offices.

[Kizzy]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...t-work-schemes

"We have no intention of giving back money to anyone who has had their benefits removed because they refused to take getting into work seriously''

What an ignorant, arrogant attitude.. typical of this government.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...t-work-schemes

"We have no intention of giving back money to anyone who has had their benefits removed because they refused to take getting into work seriously''

What an ignorant, arrogant attitude.. typical of this government.

Extremely so, I agree.

[King Gizzard]