BUSINESSES WELCOME PLANS TO REFORM WELFARE
Commenting on the Welfare Reform Green Paper, John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General, said:
“These proposals represent a welcome cultural shift which could help firms recruit more from local communities, tackle social exclusion, and lift individuals out of a cycle of benefit dependency.
“Businesses are keen to explore the new recruitment pool and for benefit expenditure to fall, but they must not be burdened – much will depend on Government.
“Taking on staff with limited recent work experience and often complex personal problems is not straightforward, and support is needed both for employer and applicant. The scheme must deliver candidates who are ready for sustainable employment.
“Specialist welfare to work providers in the private and voluntary sectors have already proved their worth, and further investment in this approach now could result in significant savings in the future. But the UK needs this success to be seen on a much larger scale if the massive burden of welfare dependency is to be reduced.”
21 July, 2008
Notes to Editors:The CBI is the UK's leading business organisation, speaking for some 240,000 businesses that together employ around a third of the private sector workforce.
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