Work for the Dole

By Kat

As of July 2014, 1,472,000 Australians are unemployed, surging above the ten year high. It is clear that unemployment is an issue that needs to be addressed, and addressed soon. In response to this, the government has reintroduced work for the dole as its latest political initiative. But it is painstakingly clear that this is not the solution to our problems.

The program the government proposes is one in which workers over the age of 18 and under 30 are required to, essentially, work for their welfare payments through a mandatory 6 month work experience program.

Despite this, there are many flaws to how the program runs, for example the work experience that the unemployed must endure is often community work that is the equivalent of work completed by criminals. 

Another element of 'work for the dole' is in its job quota, where all participants are forced to apply for 40 jobs per month, often knowing they will not be able to receive the employment due to a lack of qualifications or skills, yet applying out of necessity to receive welfare. The vast majority of job-seekers are not reliant and lazy, but rather are trying desperately to find work.

Once again, Abbott impresses me with how well he understands the needs of the people. 

Work for the dole has repeatedly proven itself ineffective in providing any useful experiences. Instead of utilising more efficient manners of stabilising an economy, the government offers menial work that does not aid participants in gaining employment. In fact, a study showed that only 7% of a focus group believed that work for the dole helped them find a job. 80% of participants were left jobless after the exercise. 

This issue needs to be addressed through other angles such as private sector wage subsidies or TAFE programs. The unemployed are being victimised by this program through the clear factor that the majority of the jobless population cannot work under no fault of their own. Carers, disabled, those with a poor socioeconomic background are all targeted, as stated by our second speaker.

Unemployment has not been this high in Australia in a decade. And yet, the solution found is only a band-aid fix. To progress from the current economic state, the answer is all too obvious. Let us eradicate futile programs like ‘work for the dole’ and progress into real solutions.