Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham

East Ham MP marks Labour’s jobs policy

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Thursday, January 10, 2013
3:07 PM

Stephen Timms joined Ed Balls MP, at Workplace Newham to mark the launch of Labour’s compulsory Jobs Guarantee for long-term unemployed.

Mr Timms along with the Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, welcomed Mr Balls to Workplace Newham – a recruitment centre committed to helping employers find local people to work for them.

The MP praised the service provided by Workplace to Newham residents, which he told Mr Balls was “making a difference to local people at a difficult time”.

Mr Timms and Mr Balls met local job seekers and discussed issues of unemployment with the staff at the centre. Mr Balls also launched the Labour party’s Jobs Guarantee policy.

Labour’s policy of a compulsory Jobs Guarantee for the long-term unemployed calls for a One Nation approach to welfare reform that is tough but fair and doesn’t divide the country. Under the government will ensure there is a job for every adult who is long-term unemployed. Those out of work will have to take up those jobs or face losing benefits.

Initially the guarantee would be for adults who are out of work for 24 months or more, but Labour would want to cut this to 18 or 12 months over time. There are currently 129,400 adults over the age of 25 who have been out of work for 24 months or more – a rise of 88 per cent since the same month last year and a rise of 146 per cent in the last two years.

Mr Timms, Labour’s employment spokesperson and the architect of the policy, said: “Britain needs real welfare reform that is firm but fair. We need those who can work to be in a job, while supporting those who cannot.