I'm long-term unemployed and I agree with your suggestion...so long as we are paid minumum wage (my brother is currently on a workfare scheme where he only receives £5 more than his benefit - in effect he's working for £2 an hour).

I've made a similar suggestion several times when I've been signing on at the jobcentre and they told me I'd probably be arrested if I kept on turning up at the council depot.

I think they either have, or are trying to instigate a 'work for the dole' scheme here in Aussie. I think it's a good idea

Interesting subject Trevor. I too agree that something could be done in return for benefits, although an 8-5, 5-day week would be full-time employment so I'm sure you were joking there, but I do feel something is wrong about folk like lee954's brother working for the equivalent of less than the minimum rate, but saying that, if people on benefits could do a couple of hours per week community service the 'hourly rate' would be impressive, but the benefit to the community from the millions of hours each week would be humongous. Mothers on benefit could take turns to man creches for a couple of hours at a time whilst the other childrens' mums helped shop or clean for elderly and disabled people, people could manage organic food production for state institutions like schools, carehomes, hospitals, also council services and establishments etc etc. Good for the health of the workers, the community and the planet, and the admin could be managed in the same way, or would create full-time paid employment.

There is one other thing though I feel is worth mentioning. Years ago I had 6 years away from employment, keeping house and supporting my husband whilst he worked 12 hour shifts as well as working a vineyard we were developing. Sadly he died, but prior to his death, possibly in preparation, I had started back to work. Although I was happy and fulfilled as his wife, I must say that when I returned to paid employment I felt a self-worth I hadn't realised I'd lost. There is a deep psychological/emotional effect from being part of the group.

Must go now, cheers T, E.X.

Hiya El, you and I should stand as joint Dictators at the next general election, we could sort the country out.

There is deffinitely a sense of satisfaction at the end of a days work, and often a sense of relief, that is missing when you do not work, and as you say, it is easy to get out of the habit of working especially if you can sit back and let the money come to you.

Too many of the unemployed are just not "available for work" due to the other things that they do and I understood that was a requirement.

See ya.