Verdict on Government’s “Back to Work” schemes will be handed down on Tuesday 12 February 2013 at 10 am at the Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
8/2/2013
On Tuesday 12 February 2013 at 10 am the Court of Appeal, with three judges sitting, will deliver its verdict on the lawfulness of the Government’s flagship “Back to Work” schemes.
The case has been brought by:
Cait Reilly
In November 2011 Cait was forced to leave her voluntary work at a local museum and work unpaid at a branch of Poundland under a scheme known as the “sector based work academy”. She was told that if she didn’t carry out the work placement she would lose her Jobseeker’s Allowance. For two weeks she was made to stack shelves and clean floors. Poundland got free labour whilst she gained nothing and received no training. She was not given a job interview at the end of the two weeks and the museum where she volunteered was left short staffed.
Jamie Wilson
In November 2011, Jamie, a qualified mechanic, was told that he had to work unpaid, cleaning furniture for 30 hours a week for six months under a scheme known as the Community Action Programme. Whilst he desperately wanted to find a job he objected to doing unpaid work that was completely unrelated to his qualifications and would not help him re-enter the job market. He refused to participate and as a result was stripped of his Jobseekers Allowance for six months.
The Claimants represented by Public Interest Lawyers have argued that the Regulations[1] under which these and many other Back to Work schemes have been created are unlawful and should be quashed.
Further details will follow early next week including the time and venue of any press statement to be made.
