Unemployment and free labour

In my previous rant/blog I posted about the job centre wanting people to work full time jobs for free - if you haven't read this article you can read it here.
I sat on the train on Friday evening heading up North like I do most weekends and I sat and read the Metro. I came across a great article which proved my point exactly.

My previous blog about unemployment and working for free was really just showing an argument between myself and some moron who didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I can understand different views but this I really feel strongly about.

The story I read as about Tesco, a big corporate store that is known nationwide. This food store (which now sells everything from clothes to computers) was advertising for full time workers to work the night shift for no more money than benefits. The advert stated the employee would only get travel and child care expenses paid.
In case you cannot see the picture clear enough here is a written version of the brief article.

'Tesco has been attackedo n Twitter after advertising for a permanent night worker to be paid expenses on top of their Jobseeker's Allowance.
The supermarket giant was criticised on the day it was revealed British unemployment rose to 2.67 million in the three months to December.
One tweet read: 'I will not buy another item from you until you abandon workfare slavery'.
Tesco's Facebook page was flooded with comments, such as 'Don't expect free labour from the taxpayer, you leeches'.
Tesco claimed the Jobcentre Plus post was 'a mistake caused by an IT error'.
David Nieberg, a spokesman for the supermarket, said the advert was for an intern and part of the government's 'work-for-your benefits' programme that sees Jobcentre Plus match 18 to 24 year olds to companies to help them find jobs.
Joanna Long, Boycott Workfare spokeswoman, said: 'What the DWP calls work experience is forced unpaid labour.'
In August, Tesco admitted to hiring 3,000 jobseekers. 'So far, 300 young people have gone on to get permanent employment,' added Mr Nieberg.

So if Tesco are doing this, advertising positions like the night worker one then how many other companies are doing the same, taking advantage of the unemployed and of the government? Tesco was caught out this time but how many of the 3000 that they have hired have been employed this way through the 'work-for-your benefits' programme?

We should not allow this to go on, and we should not stand for the abuse of the unemployed. I myself am not unemployed but I could be. I was made redundant but found a job straight away so I'm lucky, but these people who have lost jobs etc. should not be made to work for nothing!

Working Full Time for FREE!!!

'Hull has more volunteers, but are unpaid workers replacing staff?'

This is the title of the article I've been reading on my local news website. Basically the jist of it is in comparison to 2010 the amount of volunteers in Hull has risen by 45% which is pretty good.
I made a comment on this article.


'Well I have been on the JobCentre website a lot lately, looking for a job anywhere and I noticed quite a few vacancies in the North East that were 37 Hours a Week an unpaid. This was shop work, engineering.... anything you wanted. That to me is not volunteer work, that is manipulative and wrong when people out there need money and need to work.
It's good that more people are volunteering but the 'jobs' I've seen is not volunteering, it's slave labour.'


I personally feel this is justified.

Response from a certain person was this.


'If you are capable of work, have no disability that can stop you from working and have never worked (and therefore not paid any National Insurance or Tax) and receive Benefits then from your point of view you are effectively receiving free money.

If there is no work an area it is apparent that it has become acceptable to be subsidised by those that "are lucky enough to have a job". Those that have a job often do not get "free"money; they have to work to earn it.
Is it is unfair that someone in receipt of "free" money should not be expected to earn that money and at the same time be gaining work experience?
The whole "slave labour" argument is nonsense - unless you really believe that you should receive something for doing nothing.

The Benefits system is a TEMPORARY support net, not a long-term solution or a lifestyle choice, it was never designed that way.'


Is this person a complete moron, where did I say that people were getting money for nothing? See below my response to this idiot.


'what the hell are you on about?

My point was the jobs are 37 hours a week for free, so in other words people doing them still get to claim Dole. If these were paid jobs then people wouldn't be claiming dole and doing the jobs. Use your head!
37 hour a week work is not fair for people who are trying to look for an actual paid job.
I myself have only ever been out of work for one month, yes one month, in my entire working life and I have never claimed a penny from the government. I do not get any benefits whatsoever and don't intend to start either.
Like I said volunteering is a good idea for work experience but since when did that equate to doing a full time job for free when people who want to work, and need to work can't get a paid job because companies are taking advantage of the volunteers.
I got my experience doing an apprenticeship, I earned £80 a week for a year and look at me now, I work full time and have the experience.'


Now like I said, I think voluntary work is a great idea in many respects. The volunteer gets to learn something for work experience and it also helps the company as they are saving some money on some extra staff.

I don't think I am the only one who believes 37 hours for a voluntary job is unreasonable. How on earth can people look for a full time, or even part time paid job if they are working every day? Is it fair that they are working 37 hours a week for £65 dole a week on a voluntary job when someone who works full time in the same job but paid can be earning £250+ a week?

I don't think this is fair. To me a voluntary job is a few hours here and there, to help the shop and to help yourself.

If these jobs that I have seen were made into paid jobs rather than voluntary then this would put unemployment levels down, which means less money for the Government to pay out on people who are out of work.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks 37 hours for voluntary work is unreasonable?