Another disgusting attempt to expand workfare uncovered by the estimable Mr Void. A not-for-profit group, Fair Train, funded by the government have produced a document arguing that private companies running workfare-type ‘voluntary’ work experience should be reimbursed by the government for doing so. Unfortunately, the TUC – the one organisation that should be protesting against this exploitation – is supporting it. Now Another Angry Voice has recently posted an article on his blog showing that no employee should ever support workfare. The simple reasons are that it is used to drive down wages, and will be expanded to include the skilled workers, who currently believe that they are safe from its clutches. Nevertheless, the TUC for some bizarre reason is supporting this, along with Boris Johnson. There are a number of books by anarchists attacking the trade unions for selling out the working class. It’s not a position I hold, but cases like this provide evidence to support their case. The Void takes the attitude that whatever good the TUC and others believe will come from these schemes, they will be used by exploiters such as A4E, now facing fraud charges, along with charities such as the YMCA and Salvation Army. Furthermore, such work experience will not be voluntary, but will become compulsory, with the claimant forced to do mandatory workfare if they turn it down. Fair Train’s document discusses establishing a quality benchmark to distinguish firms using the scheme, which the Void says will allow them to be identified and boycotted. There’s a ‘Week of Workfare’ planned beginning on Monday, and the Void kindly provides Fair Train’s facebook address for those wishing to express their opinions about this to them.
An astonishing document (pdf), which appears to be backed by the TUC, suggests that private companies should be paid to take on workfare staff.
The breath-taking suggestion would mean that companies like Argos – who boasted of taking on workfare staff in the Christmas rush – are given a tax payer funded hand-out to go with their free labour.
The call for funding for workfare exploiters comes from Fair Train, the not-for-profit organisation who have been handed Government funding to establish a workfare quality standard scheme. The organisation claim that this workfare badge of shame is an: “independent, nationally recognised quality benchmark that is recognised by key government departments, LEPs, other employers, Trades Unions, National Careers Service and those who arrange work experience.”
According to Fair Train’s Guide For Employers, applying for this ‘quality standard’ – which basically involves sending them some money and agreeing to some vaguely defined…
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