In April 1998 youth unemployed for six months or more will be forced to join Labour's employment scheme, New Deal or lose their dole.
The supposed aim of New Deal is to remove a generation from the unemployment register but its likely result is to create a cheap pool of labour.
The government is spending £3.5 billion on the programme, but very ittle money will reach tne pockets of the young participants. Most of it will go in huge handouts to bosses to subsidise them for employing young jobless at pay little more than their Job Seekers Allowance.
It has been trumpeted that the jobless participants will have four options under New Deal, but this is a myth. Full-time education/training option for up to 12 months will really only be open to youth who have qualifications be. low N/SVQ Level 2.
Environment
Another option of working full time for your JSA on an Environ. mental Task Force is even less appealing when one of the stated projects will be reclamation of derelict or waste land (ie weeding).
The third 'choice' is to work for your JSA as free 'volunteers' for voluntary organisations. Presumably the good causes promoted by these voluntary organisations do not include helping the young unemployed or fighting poverty.
The final option is working for the private or pubic sector. Hor at least six months youth can be paid as little as £60 for full time work -but still have no guarantee of a job at the end of a placement.
Labour's local authorities are willing partners in crime in New Deal hoping to gain cheap recruits to make up for staff lost in years of cutbacks.
Elderly care
Already under previous workfare schemes like Project Work, UNISON has criticised jobless people being compelled to work in areas like elderly homes where lives are at risk if people are not properly motivated or trained to do the job.
Rodney Bickerstaffe, in a rare criticism of New Deal from a trade union leader, attacked the scheme which will not pay a minimum wage to youth. He was reacting against the real danger that current employees will be sacked and replaced by&the cheaper young casuals.
Although the TUC opposed verbally Project Work it has nothing but praise for Labour's equivalent, even when its been locked out of discussions on New Deal.
The Left has also been slow to criticise it. Amazingly a publication of the Socialist Party dominated Left Unity in the CPSA gave it "a cautious welcome". Also some members of the Campaign Group of Labour MPs have been taken in, including Alice Mahon, who believes it will provide 'meaningful work'.
Although there is a huge swathe of opinion which currently sees New Deal as the best thing since sliced bread, that will not always be the case. Socialists should link up with the unemployed and workers in the Employment Service who will particularly be hit by the New Deal.
It has brought the ES no more money for pay or staff and is another step towards its privatisation. Potential strike action in London by ES workers will highlight these issues.
Minimum wage
We should demand a minimum wage for all workers irrespective of them being on schemes or not. The Labour government should use the money to reverse previous cuts in JSA so young people have the resources to finance their own jobsearching.
Trade unions should be able to have some input into well financed voluntary schemes which have always been oversubscribed by the unemployed.
Cash starved local authorities and public services should be given the resources for the creation of decent paid jobs paid by higher taxes on bosses who have made vast profits by sacking peo-