The Government Help to Work scheme, focusing on the long-term unemployed came into effect today, the BBC reports. It is addressed to people who have not found work after two years on the existing Work Programme and would have them go to the job centre every day, offered community work placements in some cases, as well as intensive coaching. Those failing to take part could lose unemployment benefits for four weeks. Labour criticised the scheme as “mis-diagnosing the problem” and added that they would introduce a basic skills test to assess all new claimants for JSA within six weeks of claiming benefits, as in many cases jobseeker’s allowance claimants lack basic literacy skills and many more are unable to do simple maths or send an email.
