Unemployment: what’s the real picture?
Recently they announced that the number officially recognised as unemployed was 5.8%. For us, no unemployment is acceptable. But for the government this looks good. We all know that there is a recession throughout the globe and outside Australia the statistics concerning those unemployed are massive. For example in the United States the percentage of the workforce recognised as unemployed is ten percent! Compared to this Australia looks good.
But what’s the real picture? We think Rudd’s “success” is a case of dodgy figures. You see at the moment if you are working a mere ten hours per week you are recognised as employed! You may not get enough pay to survive but you are recognised as employed. This makes the government look good. We think you should be recognised as unemployed.
What bosses are doing is not laying off workers but lowering their working week. The problem is that is with loss of pay. They turn full time workers into part time workers and then reduce even further the hours worked by part time workers. As a result many workers are working for peanuts.
The bosses figure that, this way, they keep their staff until things improve. They therefore will have skilled staff for the upturn. They also figure that they are saving workers the indignity of registering at CentreLink and at a private job network agency and forcing them to endure “mutual obligation”. This is true but they are still demanding that they work for peanuts. Some are struggling to survive.
We workers and unemployed are not responsible for the world wide recession and should not be forced to pay the price. The government, if it wants to crow about “economic success”, should base its claims on real figures, not dodgy ones based on part time work. All those working less than a thirty hour week who lose pay should be recognised as unemployed. Everyone deserves a living wage. .
Another vital service axed:
the Personal Support scheme abolished.
Job Services Australia was introduced in July, claiming to provide more efficient delivery of employment support services. For the most part, it seems very much the same as the old. We are still being forced to sign so-called “agreements” and do “mutual obligation” (which may include unpaid work) to get the dole. We can still be cut off the dole for eight weeks if we breach their demands.
One reform that would have benefited us was not introduced. Private job network agencies still have the discretion to take a tough line and deliberately cut us off for minor infringements. They do this in the name of profit - it is more cost effective to concentrate time and money on short-term unemployed than those longer on the queue. We have no effective power to object to this inhumane treatment, but the government's reforming zeal doesn't extend to providing an accessible appeal process with provisional continuation of payments until the appeal has been determined. Many unemployed have told us that they are being treated less onerously than when Howard was in power. It could just be that their particular agency hasn't taken a hard line. As unemployment and the competition for the reduced number of jobs increases, the temptation for private job agencies to maximise profits by cutting us off will also increase. Only time will tell if we fare better or worse under this new system.
One new change is definitely for the worse. Funding for the employment of specialised counselling of chronically unemployed on a one-to-one basis has stopped as part of this streamlining. Now former Personal Support programme members will be treated like any other unemployed person. They will more likely be assigned a case manager who doesn't understand or doesn't have the qualifications to deal with their problems. They now will face similar work testing demands as other unemployed which they will not be able to handle. They may be sent for jobs for which they are not suited. This is wrong. Many unemployed have problems. Some are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Some have medical problems. Some have mental or emotional problems. These unemployed are capable of working but they need special attention. This means a specially trained case manager (e.g. professional psychologist or occupational therapist) who understands the practicalities of communicating with socially isolated people. This case manager used to tailor programmes to suit that individual specifically. This was what personal support was about. Its abolition means their special needs will not be met and they will be more vulnerable to being breached and cut off payments.
Not good enough!
For the first time in decades there have been less unemployed breached than in the previous month. Whilst social workers and bureaucrats (such as ACOSS) consider that this represents a more humane approach, it still means hardship. We think that that no-one should be breached at all.
We are not responsible for the recession or unemployment in general. But we are paid a pittance. It is difficult for us to make ends meet. Yet we have to jump through hoops like doing courses in order for us to receive this meagre amount. Recently pensioners got a pay rise but those on Newstart did not. Yet there was an increase in the cost of living. The government seems to treat us with total contempt. It is not good enough!
Everyone deserves a living wage but the only way we are going to get it is if we fight for it. StandUp is committed to building such an organisation. If you agree that what we are getting is not good enough, join StandUp and fight back!
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Friday September 25 at 5pm The Gaelic Club, level 1 bar. First block in Devonshire Street, Surry Hills after exiting the top of Central Railway via the Tunnel every 4th Friday of the month
- a shorter working week
- the right to work
- abolishing Work for the Dole and all free
labour schemes
- abolishing private job network agencies
- free child care
- abolishing the means test
- no mutal obligation
- rent control
- no work testing of all on social security
- legalise squatting of all empty properties until there is adequate public housing
- abolishing employment separation
certificates
- against WorkChoices
- solidarity with unions to strike & organise
- no quaranteening of welfare payments