Truth behind Jobcentre Plus advertised jobs
Posted by Work Programme | Posted in DWP, Government, jobcentre Plus, Labour Market System | Posted on 02-02-2012
Tags: Ipswich Unemployed Action, Unemployment, Welfare, Workfare
We are currently analysing past jobs advertised at Jobcentre Plus (be it the Jobcentre Plus website, directgov, job points, jobseekers direct and jobs handed over by advisers) to bring back some pretty nice statistics on the UK labour market.
Every jobseeker knows that:
- Most agency jobs on there do not exist
- Jobs from time to time are fake
- Sometimes job vacancies are merely sting operations by Jobcentre Plus
- etc.
But did you know that amongst the thousands of new vacancies posted daily, that hundreds are unpaid work trials (workfare) or employment programme “opportunities” that inflate the real number of jobs advertised? By workfare, we are excluding workfare “work placements” handled by providers…
New builds, many workers not on a wage
A genuine job advert (posted 14/09/2011) is as follows:
Job Title: CLEANING OPERATIVE
Job Code: OLD/35697
Location: OLDBURY B69
Hours: 30 PER WEEK OVER 5 DAYS
Wage: JSA CONTINUATION
Description: This is a Work Experience opportunity. Interested customers should contact their local Jobcentre to see if they are eligible but must not apply to host employers directly. You should be able to clean to a high standard and be flexible, reliable and thorough. Duties include different stages of cleaning new build houses in preparation for handover to clients and tenants. A driving licence and previous experience in using scrubber dryers and carpet cleaning equipment would be advantageous. This could lead to permanent employment. A CSCS card would be reqd and I have suggested to the employer that this could be financed through the flexible support fund.
This is clearly not a job. Regardless if the gained CSCS certification improves the person’s prospects in the future. Even in the recession, house prices are still of very high value. Someone shouldn’t be doing this work for free, on the expectation that there might be work for them in future… why would there be? They will just get more from the same method, the workfare circle continues…
Work Trial but no job…
Job Title: CLEANING OPERATIVE
Job Code: ROC/68444
Location: ROCHDALE OL16
Hours: 16 HRS WEEK, 5 DAYS FROM 7
Wage: BENEFITS PLUS EXPENSES
Description: Experience preferred but not essential as full training will be given, good communication skills are essential as you will be expected to liaise with our clients.Duties will include general cleaning, vacuuming, mopping and cleaning toilets of domestic, industrial and office locations. The successful applicant will need a full UK driving licence as they will be required to travel around various sites in the North West.Work trial only.
Are you having a f**king laugh? Driving around the North West cleaning toilets for free 5 days a week?! We know the 16 hours is excluding travel time. We assume expenses mean fuel costs.
Workplace training, great but not a job…
Job Title: CLEANING PRINCIPLES PATHWAY
Job Code: RMF/23868
Location: EAST LONDON RM1
Hours: 16 HRS P/WEEK OVER 5 WEEKS
Wage: N/A
Description: Skills Conditionality Mandatory referrals for JSA and ESA WRAG customers only.A comprehensive training package for entry into cleaning roles in offices, schools, hospitals and factories. Course consists of a Level 2 Award in Cleaning Principles, awareness of COSHH, identifying risks in the workplace and preparation for entry into work 1.Refer to Initial Provider Interview LMS Opportunity RMF 23670 and send REF 2 form.Course will begin in October.SL2 must be sent to the College prior to start date for result to be recorded under Skills Conditionality rules.
Just some notes
You may have noticed the above examples are all of cleaning. This is mostly down to a huge database of a million or so entries… and having to work out what looks like paid jobs (regardless if fake or not) and what are workfare. As you can see I got to job titles beginning with C… but I can safely say there are at least a few thousand of these “opportunities” last year across all different industries…
There is volunteering for your local community and/or for a charity, then there is working for free to benefit some profitable company. We do not recommend it. I am sure as these are on the Labour Market System, some people were forced to apply at threat of benefit sanctions.
Only a few examples, to keep the research under-wraps prior to realising statistics on the entire year.
