Unpaid labor for the unemployed.....coming to a First-World Western nation near you !!!

[marmar]

from the Independent UK:




Archbishop attacks manual labour plan
By Oliver Wright

Monday, 8 November 2010


Plans to make the long-term unemployed do unpaid manual labour for their benefits could push vulnerable people into a "downward spiral of despair", the Archbishop of Canterbury warned yesterday.

In a forthright intervention into the debate on welfare, Rowan Williams said he had "a lot of worries" about the scheme, which will be formally unveiled this week by the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.

His comments will irritate Coalition ministers – particularly the Tories, who remember their party's fractious relationship with the Church of England under Dr Williams' predecessor in the 1980s, Robert Runcie.

Mr Duncan Smith's plans will see unemployed people made to undertake a 30-hour-a-week work placement if job advisers think they would "benefit from experiencing the habits and routines of working life". Postings are likely to be provided by charities or councils and would include jobs like litter-picking and gardening. They will offer jobless people the opportunity to gain work discipline while benefiting their local community.

Anyone refusing to take part or failing to turn up on time could have their £65-a-week Jobseekers Allowance stopped for three months. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/archbishop-attacks-manual-labour-plan-2128010.html

[Starry Messenger]

1. k&r

[DJ13]

2. So what happens to those currently getting paid to do those jobs?

Its not like theres some unfilled jobs no one will take for this program, so a lot of paying jobs would go away, which would seem to end up compounding the unemployment problem, wouldnt it?

[Occulus]

5. The point is free labor.

That's the point.

They want people working for free.

Slavery by another name.

[WillyT]

7. + 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!!

Get ready to kiss massa's ass!

:mad:

How about a worldwide strike?

[JanMichael]

14. If people receive healthcare, housing and benefits, plus cash, how is that "free labor"?

Of course there must be an assumption that the healthcare is there (it is the UK so I might be right, yes?), they receive a SS or some-other kind of cash payment weekly or bi-monthly (in the article), and the monthly cash payment. Since it is the UK if this is limited to those in Council Housing (the same as a Housing Authority in the US) and if children are not left alone then why the fuck not?

If the jobs are close by, not sweat shop type work (I've worked landscaping jobs in my life and that is not the same), and relatively easy for someone without heavy mental or physical problems that makes it impossible, then why not?

PS - I should add that the state should pay for work clothes tools and transportation (limited to less than 20 minutes both ways) for anyone involved. Plus all educational/training programs that may assist in helping people in extraditing themselves from the afore mentioned situation.

[sasha031]

3. How did the UK ever vote the conservatives back to power

Oh that's right the # one selling paper in the UK is Murdoch's Sun.

[abelenkpe]

4. So same as here then? nt

[TheBigotBasher]

13. They didn't.

Also Labour were pretty much as right wing (on ID cards and anti terror crap even more right wing). Even on Social Security they were just as right wing. The Liberal Democrats signed up with them to get rid of all the authoritarian crap but coupled with that is this crap.

[the redcoat]

6. Is this a fucking joke?

Why is there something new everyday that is obviously trying to take advantage of people?

[and-justice-for-all]

8. Fuck that! send them to univeristy to learn something instead..

I would rather be told I have to attend univeristy and mainttain a C or better, than be told to shovel shit.

[Angry Dragon]

9. If I read this correctly and do the math

30 hours = L65
L2/hour

Not sure how to do the pound sign

[Xicano]

15. £ = Alt 156

To get the pound sign press and hold the Alt key on your key board while typing the numbers 1 5 6.

If you want the Euro sign €. Press and hold the Alt key while type the number 0 1 2 8.



Peace,
Xicano

[Angry Dragon]

17. Thank You

[Xicano]

19. You're very welcome Angry Dragon.. :)

:hi:

[Angry Dragon]

20. .........

:hi:

[1776Forever]

10. I can see this happening in the States that just voted in Repub Governors!

Hell yes, the Repubs would eat this up while they collect their dividends! Would be Mexico inverted here!

[leftstreet]

11. Yippee!! It's Community Service for the crime of being unemployed!

Maybe this will teach these lazy people a lesson in work ethics!1!!1111

(:sarcasm:)

K&R

[SoCalDem]

12. Clean your room, or Momma will spank you & send you to your room..n/t

[Xicano]

16. Looks like the beginning mechanism for a feudalistic relationship of lords & serfdom.

If you ask me. n/t

[nosmokes]

18. Debtor's Prison proposal will be next.

And you can bet the GOPosse is brewing up their own version for this side of the pond.

[PaulaFarrell]

21. I guess it depends on the definition of long-term unemployed

I think everyone should contribute to society according to their ability. And there are some real scroungers here who milk the system for years, have no intention of ever having a job and are just taking the piss. So forcing them into work, I have no problem with. Unfortunately, like tuition fees, it is probably intended as the thin end of the wedge which will eventually be used to discourage anybody from claiming benefit at all.

As for the outrage against having to do manual labour - I'm confused. Lots of manual labour occurs anayway, why is it considered demeaning in this context but not for people who actually go and bust their ass everyday to support themselves?