Welfare reform is 'a mistake'

Posted by HR Zone in Managing people on Tue, 22/07/2008 - 14:42

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called the proposals that force the unemployed to do community work in exchange for benefits a 'mistake'.

A paper has been published by the government which is now open for consultation until 22 October 2008. Key to the recommendations are suggestions on how to simplify the benefits system to a two tier system. It also aims to ensure that for most people out of work benefits are only temporary, with schemes to make sure that most people that collect benefits contribute actively in return for them.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has rejected the proposals calling the timing "poor": "With the economy slowing down, and many commentators expecting unemployment to rise, now is not the time to start blaming the victim.

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Editor's Welcome

 

Hello! And welcome back as we enter 2012, with a busy year ahead of us all. With talk of double-dip recessions, a possible partial or even full break-up of the Eurozone and unemployment rates set to hit nearly 9%, topics such as organisational streamlining, staff resilience and talent management are likely to be on many an HR professional's lips over the next 12 months.
 
But to lighten the gloom here in the UK, we also have the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and its attendant public holidays to look forward to at the start of June. Followed by two weeks of Olympic Games from 27 July to 12 August and the Paralympics from 29 August to 9 September, each generating their own excitement, but also issues to work through for hard-pressed HR departments trying to sort out the multifarious staffing issues in advance.
 
So with an interesting but challenging year to come, HRZone promises to be with you, supporting you all the way and providing our usual insightful blend of news, analysis, community blogs and expert comment to help you sort the wheat from the chaff. As ever, we love to hear from you too so feel free to either post your words of wisdom to our blog section yourself or, in the case of longer, more in-depth ‘expert voice’ articles, drop me a line with any ideas to cath.everett@siftmedia.co.uk.....
 
Cath Everett
HRZone Editor 
 
 
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