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Govt offers cash for jobs

12/01/2009

The government has said it will give job centres £2,500 each time they find work for people who are long-term unemployed.

By offering the bonus, ministers hope to keep employment levels up and people from claiming unemployment benefit.

"In previous recessions too many people who should have found work quickly spent years on the dole or other benefits," claimed employment secretary, James Purnell.

Gordon Brown hopes his emergency jobs package will slow rising unemployment and help motivate the economy.

Director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Frost told the BBC's Today programme that he is skeptical about the plans.

He noted firms were reluctant to take on workers "so I am not sure at this stage in the economic cycle what the offer of a £2,500 grant to take on people is going to do,"

The government is about to announce further measures to help fight the global economic slump, it has been reported.

 

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