Poundland judgement blows a ‘big hole' in government's welfare to work policies

date: 12 February 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on today's (Tuesday) Poundland judgement by the Court of Appeal, which ruled that it was unlawful for someone to be made to work for free under the government's welfare to work schemes, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'This blows a big hole through the government's workfare policies. Of course voluntary work experience can help the jobless, and it is right to expect the unemployed to seek work. But it is pointless to force people to work for no pay in jobs that do nothing to help them while putting others at risk of unemployment.

'This policy is about blaming the jobless, not helping them. Ministers should now abandon this misguided approach, and instead guarantee real jobs for the long-term unemployed, especially the young.'

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