Under new proposals, Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants who haven’t found a job once they have been through a work programme will do a 26 week placement in the community.

Participants will complete 30 hours of compulsory work a week in order to benefit their communities and develop basic employability skills.

Speaking at a Parliamentary Liaison Committee today, the Prime Minister said:

Today we are announcing that if you go through the work programme but still don’t find work, then we are actually going to be asking people to go through a community work programme where they work 30 hours a week for 26 weeks to contribute to their community. That will help many people to get back in touch with the world of work. The idea of having a job, the skills that you need that will give them further help in order to get back into work.

The government will test compulsory community work, coupled with more intensive support through Jobcentre Plus in four key areas, ahead of a nationwide roll out in 2013.

Today’s announcement is part of a government commitment to ensure that unemployed people, and particularly those that have been receiving benefits for long periods of time, are given effective support to help find sustainable employment.

External site: Liaison Committee.