Conservatives announce measures to sanction job refusals

Chris Grayling, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has announced measures to sanction those claiming unemployment benefits who decline ‘reasonable’ job offers, under proposed Conservative welfare reform.

At the Conservative Party conference yesterday (30 September 2008), Chris Grayling argued for the concept of welfare as a ‘two-way contract’ rather than ‘an entitlement’. Under Conservative welfare reform, support for the unemployed would be provided through a network of ‘back to work’ centres run by private and voluntary bodies. However, those who decline one reasonable job offer will lose one month’s unemployment benefit. Those declining a second reasonable offer lose three months’ benefit. If claimants decline a third offer, they will not be eligible for unemployment benefits for up to three years.