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Get Britain Working is an initiative of the British Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government.[1] As part of this scheme, young people on state benefits are offered unpaid work placement in companies. If they drop out after the first week on the scheme, they may have their benefits removed.
Reception
editCritics of the scheme have described it as a form of unpaid forced labour, with some critics describing it as "slave labour", and the negative publicity generated has caused a number of companies, including Sainsbury's, Waterstones, TK Maxx, Maplins, Mind and Burger King, to drop out of the scheme.[2] Tesco announced that it would be voluntarily paying young people on the scheme. Other employers such as Argos and Superdrug were reviewing their position and seeking talks with the government.[3]
In response to such developments, Conservative MP George Eustice told the BBC in February 2012 that firms involved in the scheme should "show more backbone" and resist pressure to leave the scheme.[4] On 29 February, the government announced that they would be dropping the threat of removing benefits from participants in the scheme.[5]
From January 2011 to May 2013, the program facilitated over 136,000 work experience starts, over 54,000 mentor starts, 26,000 weekly allowance starts and 61,000 pre-employment training starts, disproportionately recruiting white people.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Get Britain Working". Department of Work and Pensions. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ "Matalan reviews role in Get Britain Working scheme". BBC News. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Alex Lawson (22 February 2012). "Retailers to meet with government over Get Britain Working scheme". RetailWeek. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ "Jobless scheme firms 'should show more backbone'". BBC News. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ "Government backs down on work experience sanctions". Channel 4 News. 29 February 2012.
- ^ "Pre-Work Programme support: Get Britain Working, August 2013". GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
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