Boycott Workfare is a UK-wide campaign to end forced unpaid work for people who receive welfare. Workfare profits the rich by providing free labour, whilst threatening the poor by taking away welfare rights if people refuse to work without a living wage. We are a grassroots campaign, formed in 2010 by people with experience of workfare and those concerned about its impact. We expose and take action against companies and organisations profiting from workfare; encourage organisations to pledge to boycott it; and actively inform people of their rights.

Know your rights on workfare schemes!

“The sanction regime remains in place”

Posted: February 29th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Info on schemes, Uncategorized | Tags: , | 1 Comment »

It is reported that sanctions have been removed from the DWP’s “Work Experience” scheme, which is one of five workfare schemes which compel people to work without pay on threat of welfare sanctions. But is this another example of the DWP’s willingness to mislead the public?

There is no sign that sanctions have been lifted in the DWP’s press release which states: “The sanction regime remains in place.” Chris Grayling seems to be painting a murkier picture in TV interviews. Speaking to Sky, he first claimed “If somebody sits down with [the employer] after a couple of weeks and says ‘This really isn’t working out, I don’t want to carry on’, they wouldn’t be sanctioned. I was happy to agree to that.” But by the end of the interview, he offers an example which suggests that it will be in exceptional cases only that sanctions won’t be applied.

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Twenty four workfare protests planned this Saturday as government hides evidence

Posted: February 28th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Call to action, Welfare to work industry | Tags: , | No Comments »

Boycott Workfare have today confirmed that their national day of action on Saturday 3rd March will go ahead, despite reports that the government has asked the police to crack down on protests. Action is now planned in twenty four locations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [1] [2] [3]

The protests follow two weeks of mass social media campaigning that have seen many companies cease or suspend compulsory unpaid work placements in response to public pressure. The government has responded to concerns by trying to argue that unpaid work is only offered to the young and that it is voluntary.

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