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23/02/2012
A4e Had Jobseekers Work In Their Own Offices
A4e, the company at the center of a police investigation into the fraudulent misuse of government welfare-to-work contracts compelled jobseekers to work, for free, within its own offices.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that a freedom of information request made last year about the company showed that A4e, in an apparent conflict of interest, had jobseekers which it was meant to be helping back into work, instead working in two of its own offices.
The four-week work placements were compulsory with jobseekers told they would lose their entitlement to benefits if they did not agree to, essentially, work for free. The list obtained by the DWP from just one A4e office show the placements where in Camden and Woolwich.
The list also shows that in the 12 months leading up to June 2011 the company sent people to complete unpaid work in Asda, Sainsbury’s, Oxfam and various other small businesses and charities.
This comes after four former employees were arrested on suspicion of fraud and further revelations that the company, whose chair is an adviser to David Cameron, had to repay public funds on five occasions after government investigations found evidence of "irregularities", and that they have been investigated a total of 9 times by the DWP since 2005.
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, David Cameron praised work experience schemes saying: "I think we should encourage companies and encourage young people to expand work experience because it gives people a chance of seeing work and all that involves and gives them a better chance to get a job."
Questions are now being raised about where private companies running back-to-work schemes such as Mandatory Work Activity (MWA) and the Work Programme are allowed to place unemployed people.
(H)
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that a freedom of information request made last year about the company showed that A4e, in an apparent conflict of interest, had jobseekers which it was meant to be helping back into work, instead working in two of its own offices.
The four-week work placements were compulsory with jobseekers told they would lose their entitlement to benefits if they did not agree to, essentially, work for free. The list obtained by the DWP from just one A4e office show the placements where in Camden and Woolwich.
The list also shows that in the 12 months leading up to June 2011 the company sent people to complete unpaid work in Asda, Sainsbury’s, Oxfam and various other small businesses and charities.
This comes after four former employees were arrested on suspicion of fraud and further revelations that the company, whose chair is an adviser to David Cameron, had to repay public funds on five occasions after government investigations found evidence of "irregularities", and that they have been investigated a total of 9 times by the DWP since 2005.
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, David Cameron praised work experience schemes saying: "I think we should encourage companies and encourage young people to expand work experience because it gives people a chance of seeing work and all that involves and gives them a better chance to get a job."
Questions are now being raised about where private companies running back-to-work schemes such as Mandatory Work Activity (MWA) and the Work Programme are allowed to place unemployed people.
(H)
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The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
22 February 2012
Four Arrested For Welfare-To-Work Fraud
Four employs of A4e, a company running a government welfare-to-work contract, have been arrested for suspected fraud. The two men and two women were arrested on January 18 as part of an ongoing investigation into the company by Thames Valley Police after the company was referred to them by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Four Arrested For Welfare-To-Work Fraud
Four employs of A4e, a company running a government welfare-to-work contract, have been arrested for suspected fraud. The two men and two women were arrested on January 18 as part of an ongoing investigation into the company by Thames Valley Police after the company was referred to them by the Department for Work and Pensions.
23 March 2012
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A Government's action plan to improve the quality of care home services has been welcomed as a "positive response" by the OFT. However, consumer group 'Which?' prompted the original OFT inquiry, has criticised the proposed reforms as "vague" and called for more detail to be included.
22 August 2012
A4e Not Allowed To Call Itself A 'Social Purpose Company'
A4e, the company at the centre of fraud allegations in relation to its government welfare-to-work contracts, has now been banned from calling itself a “social purpose company”. The restriction is to ensure consumers do not mistake the company for a not-for-profit organisation. The firm's website, mya4e.
A4e Not Allowed To Call Itself A 'Social Purpose Company'
A4e, the company at the centre of fraud allegations in relation to its government welfare-to-work contracts, has now been banned from calling itself a “social purpose company”. The restriction is to ensure consumers do not mistake the company for a not-for-profit organisation. The firm's website, mya4e.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A few fog patches at first, soon clearing to leave a dry day with some patchy cloud and good sunny spells. Light and variable winds. Feeling mild in sunny spells. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:Dry and quite chilly overnight under prolonged clear spells and light winds. This will allow a few fog patches to develop in places. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
