Reeves to guarantee paid work for young people unemployed for 18 months

"Young people who have been out of a job or education for 18 months will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement, Rachel Reeves is set to announce. Those who do not to take up the offer could face being stripped of their benefits. In her speech to Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, the chancellor will promise "nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment"."

"Reeves is also expected to make the case for a society founded on "contribution", where "hard work is matched by fair reward". In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Reeves defended Labour's record after 15 months in government and highlighted achievements it had made, though she admitted there was "more to do". Reeves said no businesses had yet signed up to the scheme as it has not yet been formally announced, but said that several business organisations had come out in support."

"Under the new initiative, every young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without "earning or learning" will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement. Those who refuse to take up the offer without a reasonable excuse will face sanctions such as losing their benefits. The aim of the placements would be to help people build up the skills to get a full-time job."

Young people out of work or education for 18 months will be offered guaranteed paid work placements aimed at building skills for full-time employment. Refusal to accept a placement without a reasonable excuse could lead to benefit sanctions, including losing Universal Credit. The scheme expands a prior youth guarantee that offered apprenticeships, training, education or job-finding help for 18 to 21-year-olds. The initiative targets long-term youth unemployment as numbers of 16-24-year-olds not in education, employment or training have risen to near an 11-year high. Business organisations have expressed support, though formal sign-ups were not yet in place.

Read at www.bbc.com