Submitted by Matthew on 26 October, 2011 - 10:00
On 19 October the Boycott Workfare coalition protested outside a conference for businesses involved in implementing the government’s Work Programme and other welfare reforms.
Dressed as prisoners in a chain gang, adorned with corporate logos, the protest was to to highlight how big business “gets something for nothing” under the new measures
People claiming Jobseekers Allowance could now be mandated to undertake up to 30 hours unpaid work per week for up to four weeks.
An artist also invited passers by to take part in her installation about mandatory work activity, paying them 3p a minute to undertake repetitive tasks such as litter-picking.
This is the same rate as people forced to do workfare in the UK currently receive in benefits.
