New Government plans which would see local term jobless helping to improve the local community in Ipswich are being backed by Chris Mole MP today, ahead of the visit of Department for Work and Pensions Minister Mike O’Brien MP to the town.

(* Chris with DWP Minister Mike O'Brien MP and Job Centre Plus District Manager)

The Minister was in Ipswich to visit the JobCentre Plus in Silent Street to see how people are being encouraged to return to work, and discuss with staff the role of sanctions on benefits for those who don’t cooperate with new training and assistance from the JobCentre. The discussion also focussed on the role of local employers in helping to encourage those who are long-term unemployed back to work.

The proposals would see people who have been unemployed for two years or those who go on and off of benefits working for their benefits and for the benefit of the local community.

The proposals would see those people in Ipswich who have been through the support of the New Deal and still haven’t found work or people who have a history of going on and off benefits taking part in full time community activity in return for their benefits. This will give people work experience that employers look for and will help flush out the people who are abusing the system or working while still signing on.

Commenting on the new plans, Chris said:

“Long term unemployment is down 76% in Ipswich and more people are in work than ever before. But the days of mass unemployment have left scars and in some families worklessness has been passed down from generation to generation.”

“This could be a win-win situation. Unemployed people will get valuable experience of work and we can all think of work that needs doing in the local community.”