Migrant job seekers without English knowledge to lose benefits
By
James Chapman
Tough
new measure is part of a slate of reforms to end welfare dependency and get Britain back to
work...Benefits
claimants who cannot speak and write English will be ordered to take language
classes or have their handouts stopped for up to three years.
The
measure, announced by the Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain
Duncan Smith, is expected to apply to about 67,000 people on Jobseeker’s
Allowance. It is designed to target a
hardcore of claimants whose language skills are so poor they have little or no
chance of ever being offered a job and are doing nothing to improve their skills
themselves.
But
despite David Cameron’s stance, cynics are likely to suggest the measures will
join a raft of tough-talking announcements that lose their teeth in practice.
Enlarge Tough talk: Mr Cameron with Shahida Din of
A4E, a company that helps the unemployed find work. The Prime Minister made his
remarks during a tour of the Brixton firm today
Tough
talk: Mr Cameron with Shahida Din of A4E, a company that helps the unemployed
find work. The Prime Minister made his remarks during a tour of the Brixton
firm today
Under
the plans, anyone who refuses to start an English course or fails to turn up to
classes will face a sliding scale of sanctions.
Most
of the group of 67,000 claimants are immigrants with a right to work in this
country, but a significant number are British-born people whose education has
been so dire they are barely able to communicate.
However,
Government officials themselves admit they expect the sanctions to be little
used.
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Many
claimants, they say, are often keen to take up the offer of free language classes, while even those who are
not are expected to be motivated by the threat of having their benefits
stopped.
Speaking
on a visit to Brixton, South London, Mr
Cameron said: ‘We are getting rid of the old idea that you can get your welfare
without conditions being put on that.
‘We’re
saying that if there’s something you need to help you get a job, for instance
being able to speak English and learn
English properly, it should be a requirement that you do that study in order
for you to receive your benefits.
Clear
message: Under the new rules, Jobcentre Plus staff will be able to direct
claimants to language classes (File photo)
Clear
message: Under the new rules, Jobcentre Plus staff will be able to direct
claimants to language classes (File photo)
‘That’s
good for you because it’s going to help you get a job, it’s good for the
taxpayer because we won’t be wasting money on welfare that’s unnecessary, and
it’s good for the economy because we want more people in work creating a
bigger, more productive economy.’
Jobcentre
Plus advisers will be able to mandate people to take part in training courses
if they judge they lack the correct skills to get the jobs on offer in the
local labour market.
Pugh
People
with poor English skills, which are preventing them from getting into
employment, will be referred to English language training courses run by local
colleges and funded by the Department for Business.
If
claimants refuse or fail to attend any of the classes recommended to them, they
will have their Jobseeker’s Allowance stopped for three months.
A
second offence will mean benefits being withdrawn for six months and a third
three years.
The
measure extends ‘conditionality’ in the welfare system, meaning conditions are
attached to receiving handouts.
In
a similar example of this, Mr Cameron has asked the Government’s social policy
review, announced in the wake of last month’s riots, to look into whether the
parents of children who constantly play truant
should have their benefits cut.
Speaking
as the Welfare Reform Bill was debated in the House of Lords, Mr Duncan Smith
also announced that benefit claimants will receive their money in monthly
payments under the Coalition’s new Universal Credit system, which will replace
a host of out-of-work benefits.
Since
75 per cent of people who work are paid monthly, Mr Duncan Smith said it was
only sensible benefits are paid in the
same manner, to help claimants get used to managing their money and bills on
a four-week basis to smooth the
transition into work.
‘People
get benefits on a fortnightly basis, yet most people in work are paid monthly,’
the Work and Pensions Secretary said.
‘This
change can cause anxiety and dissuade people on benefits from entering the
workplace.
source: the mail
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