Will Work For Dole Work?

[icyfroth]

The federal government's planned revival of the work-for-the-dole scheme won't help people into jobs and could take jobs from paid workers, critics say.

But the government says it's more concerned with helping the unemployed learn "soft skills" and getting them job-ready.

Under the coalition's planned work-for-the-dole expansion, Newstart recipients will be forced to complete some tasks which may include rubbish collection, park maintenance and gardening and painting at aged care facilities.

The scheme would be compulsory and anyone who refused would lose their Newstart payment.

"We're looking for ways in which we can create more work-like placements, such as placing jobseekers with organisations (like) local councils, where they could work in a team environment with people on various council activities," Assistant Minister for Employment Luke Hartsuyker told AAP on Monday.

While no date has been fixed, the scheme will be operational in the next financial year.

The government will pay "host" organisations to cover the costs of job requirements like workers compensation, health and safety training or police checks.

The Australian Council of Social Services said it was concerned the scheme would require individuals to work below the minimum wage, based on the Newstart rate of $35 a day.

The Australian Services Union said it could put paid workers out of a job if organisations could get free labour under Newstart.

But Mr Hartsuyker says that won't happen.

The scheme would not displace paid work and paid opportunities, he said.

The opposition has slammed the proposal, saying it could increase the unemployment rate.

Labor MP Andrew Leigh said a Melbourne University study conducted under the Howard government showed the scheme didn't help people into jobs.

"It ended up diverting people from job-search activities into work-for-the-dole activities," he said.

Mr Hartsuyker said the government's focus was on getting people into jobs by teaching them "soft skills".

"It's as simple as turning up to work everyday and being appropriately presented."

Link To Article

I think it's right that ppl should work for the dole. You?

[twinkles**stars]

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@purple_haize wrote:

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

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@purple_haize wrote:

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@para-sights wrote:

Yes there is an insignificant few that probably sustain a life on benefits but they would be marginal. To label an entire generation/s, especially those unfortunate to be currently unemployed, is a bit harsh. It would be like arguing against increased pensions because old people will just spend it on pokies

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I was referring to young ones that live in a couple of suburbs, here in Melbourne, Belgrave is full of hippies, they dont wish to work and prefer to live on the dole.

I have a 20yr old step son, who doesnt work and doesnt wish to and there are lots of them around just like him......

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Belgrave full of hippies that don't work? Many of these so called hippies actually are self employed, growing vegies, making sellable crafts etc. They do the rounds of markets. Seen often at St Andrews market for example. Just because the dress casual and comfy and not in suits doesn't make them dole bludgers. I know a few 😉

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Yes Twinkle, I know that alot of them are self employed,............I was reffering to the younger ones 17, 18,19yr olds. I live up here in the hills, when I go to Belgrave on week days, they are all at the pub or sitting around the street.

I know a few as well, some of my grandsons friends parents are hippies.

My nephew works in Belgrave............he sees the ones that hang around all day smoking and drinking.

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Uni has a long break 🙂

[*crikey*mate*]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

Treating the unemployed as lazy and worthless just adds to the demoralisation caused by being on the dole. Work for the Dole is yet another way for vulnerable people to be used as political footballs. Easy targets. Its a token attempt  to appease and appeal to the self righteous snobs. I am all for re-training but I doubt that these workforthedole positions will ultimately do that. It didn't work for Howard and it won't work for Abbott. This Government would be better off creating jobs and raising the dole so that it is above the poverty line. Also, job agencies need to be scrutinised as they don't seem to be very effective.

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Just fleshing oput an idea here, so not sure of its worth.

But what if "work for the dole" included courses, perhaps recognized ones at places like TAFE? Certificate III's or IVs is under resourced fields?

It would also craete more jobs for those needed to train them/administer the course as well.

Another thing. I understand that unemployment benefits are designed to give you a "hand up", get you through a tricky spot, but the rate is pretty low (unless I spose a lot of you live together and pool resources) but I'm thinking along the lines of providing something similar to superanuation as well. Not funds that can be drawn on like normal super, but funds there to really give people a biut of a boost down the track. ton try and break the cycle of poverty that welfare does (sometimes) create across generations. Perhaps only accessible when the person does return to full time work or into a position to buy their own house or something.

I dunno, but we introduced a first home owners grant, and from what I understand all that did was drive the starting prices of houses up making them just as unreachable as they were before.

[**meep**]

blucat*dancing wrote:

"Its a token attempt  to appease and appeal to the self righteous snobs."

[lloydslights]

I think I'm correct in saying that some of the Employment Agencies not only receive payment  from the government but ALSO a "finder fee" from the eventual employer.

Yes, I believe that scrutiny should be applied more diligently to that area.  

DEB

[boris1gary]

Crikey,

TAFE courses here (NSW) are being decimated left and right

I know that the CFMEU Construction division have a thing where some of your own money goes into a fund and then when your out of work (construction work often being kind of seasonal) you can get access to that money, but that only helps if your in that industry and in that Union (i think).

[purple_haize]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

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@purple_haize wrote:

---

@twinkles**stars wrote:

---

@purple_haize wrote:

---

@para-sights wrote:

Yes there is an insignificant few that probably sustain a life on benefits but they would be marginal. To label an entire generation/s, especially those unfortunate to be currently unemployed, is a bit harsh. It would be like arguing against increased pensions because old people will just spend it on pokies

---

I was referring to young ones that live in a couple of suburbs, here in Melbourne, Belgrave is full of hippies, they dont wish to work and prefer to live on the dole.

I have a 20yr old step son, who doesnt work and doesnt wish to and there are lots of them around just like him......

---

Belgrave full of hippies that don't work? Many of these so called hippies actually are self employed, growing vegies, making sellable crafts etc. They do the rounds of markets. Seen often at St Andrews market for example. Just because the dress casual and comfy and not in suits doesn't make them dole bludgers. I know a few 😉

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Yes Twinkle, I know that alot of them are self employed,............I was reffering to the younger ones 17, 18,19yr olds. I live up here in the hills, when I go to Belgrave on week days, they are all at the pub or sitting around the street.

I know a few as well, some of my grandsons friends parents are hippies.

My nephew works in Belgrave............he sees the ones that hang around all day smoking and drinking.

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Uni has a long break 🙂

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Yes Uni does have along break but the ones that I know and can comment on do not go to uni, school or work.......

[freakiness]

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@purple_haize wrote:

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@spotweldersfriend wrote:
Rent assistance is a maximum of $50 per week,taking single unemployment benefits to $600 per fortnight.Hardly an amount to go boozing and smoking all week.
Lets face it the reason there are so many on the dole is that there are not enough vacancies. The real unemployment rate is probably double the official figure.

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Look you can say what you like re the smoking and drinking all week.......I see it first hand, I know personally those that do it and the ages of those that do it range between 17 and 22yrs, maybe some are older............this is done in areas where I live and have lived.........not saying all young do it, but it is done in two suburbs that I know of.

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By how many young people?

Do you know how many of them work some hours and how many of them do some study?

Those who don't want to work are a very small minority.  It is easy to assume most people in my street don't work too. A few are retired and most of the rest work odd hours.  There are only a couple of us who work during "office hours".

[freakiness]

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@crikey*mate wrote:

---

@bluecat*dancing wrote:

Treating the unemployed as lazy and worthless just adds to the demoralisation caused by being on the dole. Work for the Dole is yet another way for vulnerable people to be used as political footballs. Easy targets. Its a token attempt  to appease and appeal to the self righteous snobs. I am all for re-training but I doubt that these workforthedole positions will ultimately do that. It didn't work for Howard and it won't work for Abbott. This Government would be better off creating jobs and raising the dole so that it is above the poverty line. Also, job agencies need to be scrutinised as they don't seem to be very effective.

---

Just fleshing oput an idea here, so not sure of its worth.

But what if "work for the dole" included courses, perhaps recognized ones at places like TAFE? Certificate III's or IVs is under resourced fields?

It would also craete more jobs for those needed to train them/administer the course as well.

---

That sounds like the current system.

[purple_haize]

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@freakiness wrote:

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@purple_haize wrote:

---

@spotweldersfriend wrote:
Rent assistance is a maximum of $50 per week,taking single unemployment benefits to $600 per fortnight.Hardly an amount to go boozing and smoking all week.
Lets face it the reason there are so many on the dole is that there are not enough vacancies. The real unemployment rate is probably double the official figure.

---

Look you can say what you like re the smoking and drinking all week.......I see it first hand, I know personally those that do it and the ages of those that do it range between 17 and 22yrs, maybe some are older............this is done in areas where I live and have lived.........not saying all young do it, but it is done in two suburbs that I know of.

---

By how many young people?

Do you know how many of them work some hours and how many of them do some study?

Those who don't want to work are a very small minority.  It is easy to assume most people in my street don't work too. A few are retired and most of the rest work odd hours.  There are only a couple of us who work during "office hours".

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@freakiness wrote:

---

@purple_haize wrote:

---

@spotweldersfriend wrote:
Rent assistance is a maximum of $50 per week,taking single unemployment benefits to $600 per fortnight.Hardly an amount to go boozing and smoking all week.
Lets face it the reason there are so many on the dole is that there are not enough vacancies. The real unemployment rate is probably double the official figure.

---

Look you can say what you like re the smoking and drinking all week.......I see it first hand, I know personally those that do it and the ages of those that do it range between 17 and 22yrs, maybe some are older............this is done in areas where I live and have lived.........not saying all young do it, but it is done in two suburbs that I know of.

---

By how many young people?

Do you know how many of them work some hours and how many of them do some study?

Those who don't want to work are a very small minority.  It is easy to assume most people in my street don't work too. A few are retired and most of the rest work odd hours.  There are only a couple of us who work during "office hours".

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As I said before I DONT ASSUME, I know for a fact my stepson is one of them.........there are just so many here in the hills, my nephew who works in Belgrave, see them all the time, walking the streets, in the pub etc, he (my nephew) is well known around Belgrave, he knows a lot of people through out the hills and he has told me, not alot of them want to work.

Boronia, is another suburb that has heaps of young ones that dont want to work..............I know this as I lived there for 32yrs.......so no

I dont assume anything, unless you have lived in Boronia or in The Dandenongs, then you have no idea who does what.

My nephew besides running a business is a musician, and gets around a fair bit, so he knows who works and who doesnt as they are in his shop alot of the time........................

[lloydslights]

Maybe they have done all their chores at home for their working mother/father.  Do you then want them to just sit there and vegetate? Maybe after going for their interviews with agencies and possible employers they meet up with their friends.  They maybe don't have enough money for running the computer or mobile phone for extended periods.  

Human beings are SOCIAL.  We all need interaction. We here, are now doing it.  

I really don't want to argue with you but frankly, I can't believe that they are ALL there ALL day, 5 days a week.  For you to say this honestly and without hearsay, you must be there ALL day, 5 days a week, too.  I bet you'd find that fun!

DEB