Welfare reform is 'a mistake'

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.