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09/01/2008
'Work-Shy' Long Term Jobless May Lose Benefits
A new national plan by Tories to get those on the Dole back to work could see about a third of unemployed Northern Ireland people stripped of benefit if they refuse to prove themselves not to be 'work-shy' by doing voluntary work.
The new, hardline Tory plans were unveiled on Tuesday under their proposed 'Work for Welfare' crackdown which will hit anyone who has been unemployed for a combined total of two years, even if it was broken up by periods in work.
The party's figures said that almost 33% of Ulster's unemployed have been signing on for more than one year, but the party was unable to state specifically how many stayed on benefits for more than two years.
The Conservatives plan will target claimants abusing the system by taking a job for a few weeks before returning to benefits - thereby avoiding existing sanctions.
They also warned the number of 18-24 year olds out of work in the Province was rising with latest records showing 11.6% were out of work - up by 2.6% over the year.
Overall an estimated 546,000 people are "economically inactive" across Northern Ireland, up 5,000 over the year.
Separately, benefits will be temporarily removed from people who refuse "reasonable" job offers.
Meanwhile, everyone on Incapacity Benefit will be forced to undergo an in-depth assessment.
But these proposals have already been attacked by the Westminster Work and Pensions Secretary, Peter Hain, for failing to offer skills training, as the Labour Government does.
He commented: "They are unfundable, unworkable and unfair."
(BMcC/JM)
The new, hardline Tory plans were unveiled on Tuesday under their proposed 'Work for Welfare' crackdown which will hit anyone who has been unemployed for a combined total of two years, even if it was broken up by periods in work.
The party's figures said that almost 33% of Ulster's unemployed have been signing on for more than one year, but the party was unable to state specifically how many stayed on benefits for more than two years.
The Conservatives plan will target claimants abusing the system by taking a job for a few weeks before returning to benefits - thereby avoiding existing sanctions.
They also warned the number of 18-24 year olds out of work in the Province was rising with latest records showing 11.6% were out of work - up by 2.6% over the year.
Overall an estimated 546,000 people are "economically inactive" across Northern Ireland, up 5,000 over the year.
Separately, benefits will be temporarily removed from people who refuse "reasonable" job offers.
Meanwhile, everyone on Incapacity Benefit will be forced to undergo an in-depth assessment.
But these proposals have already been attacked by the Westminster Work and Pensions Secretary, Peter Hain, for failing to offer skills training, as the Labour Government does.
He commented: "They are unfundable, unworkable and unfair."
(BMcC/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
