The following details have been supplied by the TUC:
Jobcentre workers are facing “intolerable” political pressure including the prospect of disciplinary action if they don’t reduce the number of benefit claimants, their union PCS has said.
The union was speaking out after the House of Commons work and pensions select committee urged the government to provide incentives for Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to get people into work, not just off benefits.
Launching its 28 January report, committee chair Dame Anne Begg said the system did not determine whether claimants “are leaving benefit to start a job or for less positive reasons, including being sanctioned or simply transferring to another benefit. We believe this risks JCP hitting its targets but missing the point. JCP must be very clearly incentivised to get people into work, not just off benefits.” The committee called for a review of whether the sanctions regime was encouraging claimants to seek work. Welcoming the committee report, PCS said the government’s stricter rules have led to target-like objectives being set for staff to sanction a certain number of claimants, regardless of their behaviour. Staff not meeting targets faced the threat of disciplinary action, the union said, a process it believes is unfair on both Jobcentre workers and the people entitled to benefits who they are there to help.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “No one joined the employment service to be in conflict with the people they are there to help, but this government is seeking to punish the unemployed, sick and disabled. This political pressure is making life intolerable for claimants and staff alike and we fully support the MPs’ call for a much wider review of the effect that sanctions are having.”
