THE LABOUR candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock. Mike Le-Surf has backed the Labour ‘jobs guarantee’ scheme.
Labour says its “jobs guarantee” scheme for young unemployed people will last for the whole of the next parliament, if it wins the 2015 general election.
Under the plan, 18 to 24-year-olds out of work for a year will be offered a taxpayer-funded job for six months – with those who refuse losing benefits.
Labour says it would pay for this by taxing bank bonuses and changing tax rules for the pensions of high earners.
The Tories say the sums “don’t add up”, with the money already allocated.
There were 917,000 unemployed 16-24 year olds in the three months to December 2013, including those in full-time education but looking for work.
Under Labour’s Compulsory Jobs Guarantee, those aged 18-25 out of work for 12 months or more would be offered 25 hours’ work a week on the minimum wage and the employer would have to guarantee compulsory training.
Mr Le-Surf said: “The rise in youth unemployment under Tory-led coalition is one of the real scandals of this current government and is affecting many residents in South Basildon and East Thurrock. Tory and Lib Dems claims that the economy is recovering are built on deceit and delusion. The reality is that our current economy is one of uncertainty and insecurity for many thousands of people.
“Zero hours contract work helps to cook the books and keep the real unemployment figures down. The future for residents of South Basildon and East Thurrock has to be built of stronger stuff. I am campaigning for a level playing field for all. Training and apprenticeships are a vital part of this and I am delighted that Labour has made the concrete pledge to the electorate for a compulsory jobs guarantee.
“25 hours work a week on the minimum wage will be provided and the employer will have to guarantee compulsory training. Life on welfare will no longer be an option and the opportunity for training in employment will become a reality for many people that I am speaking to week-in, week-out on the doorsteps of our constituency.”
