Unpaid work experience is not the way to help young people
27 February 2012
UCU today said that improving access to education and training was a much better way of helping young people find long-term work, than asking them to work for their benefits.
The call comes after the government's 'Workfare' scheme, which encourages young people to take on unpaid placements with no guarantee of permanent posts, was criticised again over the weekend for allowing companies to use unemployed youngsters as free labour.
National protests against the 'Workfare' scheme have been organised for this Saturday (3 March), with events happening throughout the UK.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'If the government is serious about improving young people's long-term work prospects it should be investing in education and training instead of cutting college and university places and hiking up the cost of education.
'The huge outcry against the Workfare scheme should force ministers back to the drawing board. There is nothing wrong in paying companies incentives to employ young people but they should never be allowed to exploit young people as free labour.
'UCU supports all those within the community who have campaigned against the exploitation of our young people by unscrupulous, multi-national employers.'
National protests against the 'Workfare' scheme have been organised for this Saturday (3 March), with events happening throughout the UK.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'If the government is serious about improving young people's long-term work prospects it should be investing in education and training instead of cutting college and university places and hiking up the cost of education.
'The huge outcry against the Workfare scheme should force ministers back to the drawing board. There is nothing wrong in paying companies incentives to employ young people but they should never be allowed to exploit young people as free labour.
'UCU supports all those within the community who have campaigned against the exploitation of our young people by unscrupulous, multi-national employers.'
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