So what do we do with these areas

[Old Greg]

I don't approve of them being used as cheap labour for the multinationals as workfare.

BUT, there are plenty of charities and community organisations that could do with help

Make them do something positive for the community

I wonder if this has been costed and would work out as more expensive than the current system - I genuinely don't know. Effectively you are talking about state mandated full employment, which I'm all in favour of. I would add a rider that people who have lost their jobs should have a period (6 / 12 months) paid for at decent money, funded through a continental style social insurance model (remember NI?) to find a new job before the mandated work guarantee kicks in.

[SimonMac]

The hugest chunk by far of the welfare budget goes on pensioners, not 'benefit scroungers'

Lazy bastards, what have they ever done for us!

[amcdonald]

I wonder if this has been costed and would work out as more expensive than the current system - I genuinely don't know. Effectively you are talking about state mandated full employment, which I'm all in favour of. I would add a rider that people who have lost their jobs should have a period (6 / 12 months) paid for at decent money, funded through a continental style social insurance model (remember NI?) to find a new job before the mandated work guarantee kicks in.

Really until retirement everyone should be in educstion/training, employment or work for charidee

If you have the money not to live off the state, you can do what you want

Otherwise you should contribute to society in exchange for the state safety net

If it costs more in the short term that should not be an issue

[Old Greg]

Really until retirement everyone should be in educstion/training, employment or work for charidee

If you have the money not to live off the state, you can do what you want

Otherwise you should contribute to society in exchange for the state safety net

If it costs more in the short term that should not be an issue

If people lose their job through no fault of their own, I think they deserve a period of grace (funded through social insurance) to find a new job.

[vetran]

I wonder if this has been costed and would work out as more expensive than the current system - I genuinely don't know. Effectively you are talking about state mandated full employment, which I'm all in favour of. I would add a rider that people who have lost their jobs should have a period (6 / 12 months) paid for at decent money, funded through a continental style social insurance model (remember NI?) to find a new job before the mandated work guarantee kicks in.

I suspect many of the people that do not work cause significant work for police & social services.

I agree that a grace period would be sensible I suggest 18 months, six months on your own, six months training, six months positively being pushed.

I prefer Tesco getting some cheap labour than someone deteriorating on benefits. We win by seeing people getting jobs. If we ran it ourself how much would it cost?

[Old Greg]

I suspect many of the people that do not work cause significant work for police & social services.

I agree that a grace period would be sensible I suggest 18 months, six months on your own, six months training, six months positively being pushed.

I prefer Tesco getting some cheap labour than someone deteriorating on benefits. We win by seeing people getting jobs. If we ran it ourself how much would it cost?

Of course if Tesco could get shelf-stackers (for example) for free, wouldn't it make economic sense to fire all their shelf-stackers and then take them back for free. In fact, probably 30% of the workforce could be fired and then taken back at benefit level wages by the firing company.

Although I may be being a bit silly.

[vetran]

Of course if Tesco could get shelf-stackers (for example) for free, wouldn't it make economic sense to fire all their shelf-stackers and then take them back for free. In fact, probably 30% of the workforce could be fired and then taken back at benefit level wages by the firing company.

Although I may be being a bit silly.

nope perfectly sensible, its a balance. You get Supermarkets & other large organisations to contribute enough that it isn't a cheap option. Give them the 18 month plus hopeless ones and let them deal with them, cheaper than paying ATOS to do it.

The ones you can turn around quickly go to the SMEs with nice experience mixes.

You tell the big ones they are the only one with resources to take the risky ones.

Its not cheap labour its cheap training if you get it right.

[mudskipper]

Robert Owen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This guy made it work.

[AtW]

Saw on advert for The Purge last night.

Not a bad idea, probably a crap film though

Looks like a good movie...

[AtW]

80% of the population claiming pensions

It's high time to increase retirement age to 100