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13/02/2013
Unpaid Job Seeker Workers Face Compensation
Thousands of people who were made to work unpaid in order to keep their job seeker’s benefits could be entitled to compensation, after the court of appeal declared the scheme to be unlawful.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun issuing new regulations following the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The ruling found that work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan had not informed unemployed people of their right to appeal against the scheme, in which some people were made to work up to 780 hours unpaid.
The case was initially brought by a 24-year old geology graduate called Cait Reilly, who informed the Guardian of her story of "forced labour" in Poundland in November 2011.
The unpaid schemes were decided to be legally flawed after the court found the DWP had exceeded its powers.
Tens of thousands of people who had benefits cut for not taking part in schemes such as work experience will now be entitled to a rebate.
But the DWP has said it will resist paying out the compensation as far as possible.
Unions and campaigners have celebrated the decision, but the DWP said it could be overcome by issuing new regulations which comply with the court's ruling.
(IT/GK)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun issuing new regulations following the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The ruling found that work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan had not informed unemployed people of their right to appeal against the scheme, in which some people were made to work up to 780 hours unpaid.
The case was initially brought by a 24-year old geology graduate called Cait Reilly, who informed the Guardian of her story of "forced labour" in Poundland in November 2011.
The unpaid schemes were decided to be legally flawed after the court found the DWP had exceeded its powers.
Tens of thousands of people who had benefits cut for not taking part in schemes such as work experience will now be entitled to a rebate.
But the DWP has said it will resist paying out the compensation as far as possible.
Unions and campaigners have celebrated the decision, but the DWP said it could be overcome by issuing new regulations which comply with the court's ruling.
(IT/GK)
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