Strider     Magazine

No 3

Bridging the gap 

Work for the dole

Exploitation or opportunity ?

"Work for the dole provides work experience opportunities and activities for eligible job seekers"

                              Dept. Employment, small business

"Well it's scab labour isn't it?

                             Mrs. M. Adams                                               

 According to the Dept of Employment workplace relations and small business which runs the scheme it "provides work experience and allows unemployed people to satisfy their mutual obligation to give something to the community in return for their unemployment benefit" My mum reckons it's scab labour. I do not think the latter is the case but the dept., under minister Tony Abott, apparently mindful of such community perceptions has  launched a series of commercials showing happy people being fulfilled by working on worthwhile community projects and making friends. These circumstances may well occur but I think the govt's underlying purpose is evident in the quote "...give something to the community in return for their benefit."

This federal govt sees welfare as regrettable and, in line with party politics and to conform to its' voter base, has sought to reduce and restrict welfare distribution in the community since coming to power.  An easy target is the unemployed, and in no other area of welfare has eligibility been restricted and compliance been regulated, with penalties, to such an extent.

 Restrict old people and pensions? Controversial. Put single mothers to work? Untenable. Make the unemployed work for the dole? Why not! When people see their hospitals starved of funds, their schools closed and their roads in disrepair it is easy to exploit their despair over where the money is going and blame those receiving it for the lack of it elsewhere.

This is what makes me angry about work for the dole. To take heat from themselves over cuts in govt spending, and to push a political barrow, the govt is giving the unemployed a hard time, whereas, to paraphrase the shadow minister 'there are approximatly 40,000 jobs available nationally and over 100,000 unemployed. You do the math.'

 Does the community benefit? The community groups involved receive a management fee for taking us on. Payment for placement to get us off the stats? Probably. Would people in wheelchairs have noone to push them, would that roof not go on or that garden bed not be weeded without work for the dole? If so it is not because of the unemployed and it fuels the scab labour debate.

Also, inherent in the scheme is the assumption that the unemployed do not contribute to their community. Does the govt know what volunteer work is done and by whom? I dont think so. there are no questions on my unemployment form pertaining to volunteer work.

Even if we are being exploited for political gain, what is the reality for participants? Whatever motives the govt might have and whatever attitude I had towards work for the dole when I began working on this article, the truth is I have learned things, I have been inspired and stimulated and I have had fun. This may not be every participants experience but [perhaps luckily] it has been mine.

 So, opportunity or exploitation? It's up to you and what you make of it.