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CBI supports Job Seekers work scheme

The CBI has offered its support to work experience schemes aimed at individuals claiming Job Seekers Allowance.

The Government met with businesses to discuss the “Get Britain Working” scheme, in which 16 to 24 year olds on job seeker’s allowance do up to eight week’s unpaid work but keep their benefits.

In recent weeks the scheme has come under increasing criticism after is was exposed that individuals who dropped out of the scheme after a probationary period of one week could have their benefits docked.

The Government have since dropped this threat, but sanctions will still apply if a gross misconduct occurs.

Many large corporations have pulled out of the scheme after receiving accusations that their involvement in the project was tantamount to “slave labour”.

However, Katja Hall, CBI chief policy director believes that the scheme does provide youngsters with an excellent chance to experience the world of work.

She commented: “Gaining hands on experience of the workplace is vital to giving young jobseekers a foot in the door, and it can make such a difference when they are applying for interviews.

“The advantage of this scheme is that they gain work experience while remaining on benefits.

“The work experience scheme’s record of getting people into jobs is very strong, with more than half coming off benefits after 13 weeks of starting a placement.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .