Workfare: Councils ''exploiting'' scheme to fill roles left empty due to Coalition cuts

Figures show that the majority of the jobseekers are only given work for a few weeks and do not get a permanent job at the end.

Councils stand accused of “exploiting” the Government’s controversial back to work scheme to employ staff on the cheap.

Town halls are increasingly taking on workers under the workfare programme to fill roles left empty because of cuts.

But figures show that the majority of the jobseekers are only given work for a few weeks and do not get a permanent job at the end.

The mandatory work activity scheme forces jobseekers to take up unpaid placements for up to four weeks. Anyone who fails to participate can lose their benefits for 13 weeks.

The scheme has been branded a “disgrace” as participants only receive their benefits - meaning they get paid as little as £1.78 a hour for a full time job.

Since the scheme was introduced in June 2011 nearly 1,929 people have taken on by 167 councils under the work experience or mandatory work activity programmes.

But only 138 of these were given a permanent job at the end of their placements. Bexley Council in South London took on 71 placements. Many of these were in the library service where the council had shed 35 permanent posts.

But only 138 of these were given a permanent job at the end of their placements. Bexley Council in South London took on 71 placements. Many of these were in the library service where the council had shed 35 permanent posts.

Northumberland County Council took on 44 placements under the mandatory work activity programme but the campaign group Boycott Workfare claims not one received a job at the end of their placement.

In Wales, Newport City Council took on 112 placements under the Work Experience scheme and the Work Programme but only 12 were given jobs in the council.

The disclosure comes as Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith claimed many jobseekers lacked the “motivation” to find work.

Announcing a new crackdown, Mr Duncan Smith accused claimants of making a “lifestyle” choice to live on benefits.

“People who have been out of work for several years or those who are lacking motivation will be required to spend up to six months looking for an applying for jobs in return for their benefits,” he said.

Joanna Long of Boycott Workfare said: “It is a disgrace that councils are making people work for no pay. They are exploiting local people to fill the gaps left by government cuts to public services.

“Workfare is bad news for people in paid work whose jobs it’s replacing. It is terrible news for the people forced onto the schemes who can face benefit stoppages, hunger and homelessness.

“Research shows workfare doesn’t help people find work. People across the country are taking action to stop Osborne’s new six month workfare scheme from launching in April. Forced unpaid work cannot become the norm in the UK.”

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