[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

You havent answered the question.

I will ask it again.

Is there a reason why people doing work should not be paid the legal minimum wage?

Yes, if for example they have been on long term benefits, for example five years of JSA, Housing benefit etc. they should work the required hours that it would take to earn the amount (paid at national minimum wage)

Obviously any wage they get would be counted as normal taxable income meaning if they getting housing benefit and council tax help with their JSA, that help would be adjusted downwards so they wouldnt be getting anything more than someone normally employed on the same wages.

Obviously? Do people on the minimum wage pay income tax (I honestly dont know?)

A vague "Should the long term feckless unemployed (and by this I mean those who see benefits as a lifestyle choice) receive their benefits without making a contribution to society?" doesnt really answer the question, or are you trying to say you are ok with double standards in society, ie. you benefiting from the likes of tesco not paying a proper wage so you can get food a bit cheaper out of your proper wages.

It seems you are ok with it, but are too ashamed to say so directly.

Vague in your opinion, I posed a question thats all

I don't see why the long term unemployed should be able to receive a large amount of financial assistance without making a contribution. It doesn't have to be Tesco. How about a project that benefits the communities that they live in?


I will repeat also what I would be ok with as you also havent said if my proposals would be acceptable.

So either

1 - The JSA claimant does the workfare, however they only work the amount of hours that would pay the JSA rate via minimum wage, so e.g. 11 hours work for their £72 JSA. Fair is fair right?
or
2 - They do 30-40 hours work, but they also get paid the min wage for doing that work so e.g. 30 hours per week at tesco increases their JSA to £195. This £195 would either be paid by the company benefiting from the work or the DWP.


OR


3. They work the required hours that pays not only for their JSA but ALSO their benefits received such as housing benefit etc. council tax benefit etc.

It seems you want the best of both worlds, you basically want to benefit from people working for a pittance.

No, I want it to be fair, so that the people who actively decide that benefits is a lifestyle choice don't spend years receiving state assistance whilst making no contribution back to society.

Then you have the motivational side of it, if you actually pay people on workfare what they would get as a job, then they get to see the benefits for themselves (extra money) and then may become more motivated to look for work (if you really believe that everyone on workfare is a workshy scrounger as told to you by the sun and daily mail).

If we need to tell people that having a job or career is a good thing because they will earn more money then there is a serious problem somewhere..........