Give jobs to all long-term jobless – Purnell

by René Lavanchy

The Government must make the welfare state “relevant” to the recession by guaranteeing a job for everyone out of work for a year, former Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said this week.

by Tribune Web Editor
Thursday, January 21st, 2010

by René Lavanchy

The Government must make the welfare state “relevant” to the recession by guaranteeing a job for everyone out of work for a year, former Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said this week.

Mr Purnell has joined the TUC, the Demos think tank and his ex-welfare advisor Professor Paul Gregg in writing to his successor Yvette Cooper last week calling for jobseekers to be offered six month’s paid work, in order to prevent a repeat of the mass unemployment that persisted after the 1990-91 recession.

He told Tribune: “It’s a way of making a welfare state [that] actually protects them in ways that are relevant against the risk that exists now.

“No-one should be unemployed more than a year. It’s definitely affordable. In the medium term it would save money; it would make the welfare state more effective. All the evidence is what really works in getting people back to work is this approach.” It would draw a clear divide between Labour and the Tories’ “stick and stick” approach, he added.

The Welfare Reform Act Mr Purnell steered through parliament before his resignation makes benefits more conditional on jobseeking or “work related activity”.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “A job paying decent wages for at least six months provides the kind of experience employers want and gives an unemployed person the best possible chance of getting back to work.”

The only place you can read all of Tribune's articles as soon as they are published is in the magazine. To find out more about subscribing from as little as £19, click here.

About The Author

  • Robert

    Why are the long term out of work, why should I as an employer give a job to a person who has never ever worked and more then likely does not want the job anyway.

    When I employed anyone I made sure the work record was good, if not I did not employ them, I’m not here to help the government I’m here to make a profit.

    I had Purnell once tell me I had a responsibility to employ the long term sick or disabled simple put why.

    Why should I employ somebody who does not want to work, or is crippled or just plan lazy,

    The government can employ them, not me.

    Oh and before you scream racism, I’m severely disabled but I’d not employ me, so why should anyone else.

  • Robert

    Why are the long term out of work, why should I as an employer give a job to a person who has never ever worked and more then likely does not want the job anyway.

    When I employed anyone I made sure the work record was good, if not I did not employ them, I’m not here to help the government I’m here to make a profit.

    I had Purnell once tell me I had a responsibility to employ the long term sick or disabled simple put why.

    Why should I employ somebody who does not want to work, or is crippled or just plan lazy,

    The government can employ them, not me.

    Oh and before you scream racism, I’m severely disabled but I’d not employ me, so why should anyone else.

  • Robert

    Why are the long term out of work, why should I as an employer give a job to a person who has never ever worked and more then likely does not want the job anyway.

    When I employed anyone I made sure the work record was good, if not I did not employ them, I’m not here to help the government I’m here to make a profit.

    I had Purnell once tell me I had a responsibility to employ the long term sick or disabled simple put why.

    Why should I employ somebody who does not want to work, or is crippled or just plan lazy,

    The government can employ them, not me.

    Oh and before you scream racism, I’m severely disabled but I’d not employ me, so why should anyone else.

  • Trevor

    Robert, it’s hardly surprising you’re thinking of voting BNP with views like this! Perhaps when you’ve got your Fourth Reich and been carted off to the gas chambers with the rest of the “crippled”, you’ll be happy.

    Providing employment for the long-term unemployed (provided it’s for at least the minimum wage) is long overdue. For once, I find myself supporting an initiative by James Purnell. The jobless deserve to be treated with consideration not vilified (as some so-called Labour supporters who contribute to these pages seem to think!).

  • Trevor

    Robert, it’s hardly surprising you’re thinking of voting BNP with views like this! Perhaps when you’ve got your Fourth Reich and been carted off to the gas chambers with the rest of the “crippled”, you’ll be happy.

    Providing employment for the long-term unemployed (provided it’s for at least the minimum wage) is long overdue. For once, I find myself supporting an initiative by James Purnell. The jobless deserve to be treated with consideration not vilified (as some so-called Labour supporters who contribute to these pages seem to think!).

  • Robert

    I’m doing more then thinking about it believe me, whats the difference being taken off with a Labour party who cuts your benefits to give to middle England or being shoved into a gas chamber, both are deaths.

    I’ll go with the party I might be able to change , not the party that has given up and sold out to Thatcherism

  • Robert

    I’m doing more then thinking about it believe me, whats the difference being taken off with a Labour party who cuts your benefits to give to middle England or being shoved into a gas chamber, both are deaths.

    I’ll go with the party I might be able to change , not the party that has given up and sold out to Thatcherism

  • Robert

    I’m doing more then thinking about it believe me, whats the difference being taken off with a Labour party who cuts your benefits to give to middle England or being shoved into a gas chamber, both are deaths.

    I’ll go with the party I might be able to change , not the party that has given up and sold out to Thatcherism