The Government needs to help every worker, no matter their
background, “outperform what society says they should be able to
do”, Work and Pensions Secretary said in a speech to major
employers today at the Recruitment & Employment
Confederation.
After helping deliver record numbers of people into work, Rudd
will call for a new government focus on helping people better
themselves in work, moving to higher paid, higher skilled
roles.
Of those workers on low pay in 2006, just one in six had escaped
that earnings bracket a decade later.
To tackle this, Rudd announced two new projects for Jobcentres:
- · Building the
ability to help claimants make good decisions about
job-switching. With evidence that changing jobs is often the best
way to open up new opportunities and take on more responsibility,
this project will help DWP staff assist workers to make informed
decisions about new opportunities.
- · Boosting the
capability of DWP’s employer-facing staff to have effective
conversations with local employers about progression and good
quality flexible working.
Sanctions
Rudd also announced that the length of the maximum single
sanction any benefit claimant could face will be reduced to six
months.
After committing in February to publishing an evaluation into how
the sanctions system supports people into work, Rudd expressed
concern at the impact of the longest sanctions on some claimants’
ability to support themselves.
While under 3% of eligible Universal Credit claimants are
currently undergoing a sanction, where they have failed to meet
their obligations like attending meetings and interviews without
good reason, and with the average lasting only a month, the
change will help to prevent claimants from facing long sanctions.
Acknowledging the growing role of automation in the
workplace, said:
“Automation is driving the decline of banal and repetitive
tasks.
“So the jobs of the future are increasingly likely to be
those that need human sensibilities: with personal relationships,
qualitative judgement and creativity coming to the
fore.
“And there is a clear role for Government to help people take
advantages of these changes, and to help businesses create
high-quality jobs.
“I don’t underestimate the challenges ahead. Jobs are being
made, remade and reshaped every day, as we find new ways to be
useful to one another.
“But I remain incredibly optimistic about what we can
achieve.
“Changing career, perhaps several times, in the midst of
working life can be daunting - particularly if you have a family
to look after. I know - that’s the path I took.
“The work we are doing across Government, and particularly in
my Department, is designed to support people through this.
“We want every person, no matter their background, to
progress in the workplace and outperform what society says they
should be able to do.
“These values are at the heart of what I will do at the
DWP.”
Commenting on the changes to benefit sanctions, she
said:
“While necessary for the integrity of the system, I believe
long financial sanctions become much less valuable over time, and
ultimately undermine our aim to help people into work.
“That is why we will reduce the length of the maximum
sanction to six months to make them more proportionate, and why I
have already launched an evaluation to consider further
improvements we can make.”
Chief Executive of REC, Neil Carberry said:
“We are delighted to welcome today. REC is all about
brilliant recruitment, because it offers people opportunity and
generates economic growth and prosperity. Building a progression
nation is a vital part of this – addressing skills needs, gender
gaps and regional disparities.”
“Recruiters across the country change people’s lives every
day by helping them develop their career. And the vast majority
of people tell REC it is the most important life decision they
make. It is good to see the Secretary of State acknowledge this
through her choice of venue today. We look forward to working
with the Government on these new pilots, ensuring that people get
the opportunities they need to build their future.”
