Mark Garnier MP Jobs Fair – Shouldn’t it be called #Workfare says Howard Martin Wyre Forest Labour #jobseekers #wfLab
Posted by labourblogger on February 21, 2012
Our MP is certainly busy at the moment, running around a bit like a headless chicken trying to, singlehandedly, save the Wyre Forest economy from meltdown. Jobs are going, locally, at a great rate – Brinton’s, Sealine, local retailers all cutting too quickly for any slack to be taken up by existing vacancies. First Mark says we need better roads and communication – yes – haven’t we been saying that since the 1960’s? But it won’t happen – no money. Then he says we need “big employers” to move here – yes – but it won’t happen. It is an unrealistic suggestion – mainly because we don’t offer incentives to relocate and we have no roads that go anywhere quickly, which rules out manufacturing and distribution companies who provide most large job opportunities but need to get about! I suppose we could get a Call Centre to relocate from Mumbai or Calcutta?
So now he suggests a Jobs Fair to sort it out. A Jobs Fair is a great idea – providing there are any jobs available – which there aren’t – so it is populist lip service in an attempt to be seen as doing something – anything! Commendable suggestion.
However, in line with Tory Party policy, shouldn’t it be called Workfare – the disgraceful government “initiative” (con) which “allows” the unemployed (actually forces them) to work for nothing, about which they have no choice. To their credit Sainsbury’s, Waterstones and TK Maxx have all pulled out of this appalling scheme calling it “exploitation of the unemployed” and Tesco’s are “uncomfortable” about the programme.
A case is now being put together against the DWP under the Human Rights Act that the scheme is the government imposing “forced labour” and it is a direction to work, which is banned under the Act. We’ve gone a long way towards extremism since Norman Tebbitt suggested getting “on your bike” to look for work in the 80’s, when Maggie created 4m unemployed through policies now being repeated, more badly, today. But it is not progress. Shades of Clockwork Orange?
If Workfare were happening in a dictatorship there would be a public outcry in the UK from politicians of ALL political hue that it was fascism in action – but since it is the good old Tory Party “doing their bit” to get people off benefit, their supporters condone this piece of right wing political chicanery. What next I wonder from the caring Tories – sending Children up chimneys?
Howard Martinis Parliamentary Spokesperson Wyre Forest Labour
Footnote: Maplins have announced they are withdrawing from the scheme
After bad publicity, Tesco’s now to offer paid work to unemployed people on coalition scheme, while Argos and Superdrug suspend involvement in workfare.
Guardian : http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/21/back-work-scheme-disarray-tesco
