www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2013/03/507710.html
A statement from the Salvation Army-
How can we morally take sick and disabled people and force them to work?
At The Salvation Army, we have a history of believing in emancipation through employment. People who come for work experience with us are fully supported throughout their placements with help tailored support to their needs. We have a Buddy system in place, which enables the person on placement to have one-to-one support to enable them to get the most out of the experience.
What do we do when we receive people who are too sick to work in our opinion?
We go to their disability employment adviser and we feedback our concerns to them. If someone becomes sick whilst on MWA then providers will refer an individual back to JobCentre Plus for reassessment. Jobseeker’s allowance regulations allow for two periods of sickness in a twelve month period.
How long do people spend doing Mandatory Work Activity?
It is a maximum of thirty hours per week.
Do The Salvation Army discuss Mandatory Work Activity with the Department for Work and Pensions at all?
The Salvation Army is part of ERSA, the Employment Related Services Association. ERSA have discussed how the scheme is going on behalf of providers, and have stated that work experience can work for some people but should only be used if it genuinely improves the employability of jobseekers. Decisions to expand work experience type schemes must be grounded on evidence that is not currently there.
How are the sick and disabled assessed for MWA?
JobCentre Plus do the assessment and the scheme is targeted at JobSeeker’s Allowance claimants (although ESA are now eligible) who might benefit from a short sharp spell of work experience. It’s important JobCentre Plus get the assessment right.
If someone wanted to volunteer for work experience, why where they referred to on a MWA?
This would be something that would be related to that particular case, and therefore down to the Welfare to Work Provider in question.
Why are you working with the government?
The Salvation Army has a history of more than a hundred years of working with all governments, regardless of hue, creed or policy, to enable us to help the most vulnerable. We’ll work with anybody who is able to help people secure work and move out of work into employment, allowing the person to make the most of their potential.
How does The Salvation Army feel, knowing that if they have to refer someone back to the JobCentre, they may lose their benefit?
One of our Territorial Envoys who hosts work experience placements regularly, explains our position – “We believe in transformation as a Christian organisation - we believe in helping the whole person when it comes to the search for employment.”
“It’s the same as any other job, when our placements are with us. We give them three chances at least before taking any action, but even before then we actively try and seek to work through any issues the person on placement might have.”
“The point is, in the real world, you do have to have discipline in the workplace – the same rules apply to work experience. A lot of these people who have been out of the market for a while and need to learn how to operate again – which includes adhering to the rules and regulations – this teaches responsibility. I do not take any money for these placements from the job centre.”
This is only a localised snapshot that applies to that particular corps, but it gives a picture of how the placements are regulated on the ground and what good can be done as a result of them.
Why does The Salvation Army take so many sick and disabled people?
We take the people nobody else can place, the people with complex needs who are hardest to place due to the amount of support they will need.
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My opinion-
"At The Salvation Army, we have a history of believing in emancipation through employment"
Sounds a bit like work will set you free-Arbeit macht frei.
All work should be paid at the rate of at least the minimum wage.
If people wish to volunteer to work for charities that is up to the individual but they should not be forced to do so let alone used by a charities.
