Commenting on the Government’s Jobs White Paper published yesterday (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said, “The new better off in work guarantee shows the Government has recognised that some people moving off benefits into very low paid work do not bring home any more money. They are right to try to correct this.
‘The promise of 100,000 new jobs, apprenticeships and training places is good news for nearly one million young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
‘In the 1980s, young people who lost their jobs were left on the scrapheap, and over two million of them were unable to find work even after the recession had ended. Today’s commitment shows that the Government has learnt those lessons and is taking this jobs crisis seriously.
‘With long-term unemployment still going up rapidly, making the Youth Guarantee available after six months is also a welcome and necessary investment.
‘However, the Government must continue to offer job and training guarantees to all those at risk of lengthy periods of joblessness.”