The Metropolis

Government Now Supplying Poundland’s Employees?

Chuck Ansbacher | Friday 11 March, 2011 16:32

The job market just got a bit more demoralising. Poundland, the everything’s £1 retailer with 327 stores nationwide, has been accepting volunteers to stock its shelves under the Work Placement Programme. Well, not “volunteers” technically, since that word implies voluntary and this sort of volunteerism has been mandatory…

Poundland said in a statement that the company did not use volunteers, but it did have a number of people on the government’s Work Placement Programme.

“We work in partnership with JobCentre Plus and other government-funded organisations to implement a comprehensive Work Placement Programme designed to provide on the job training for those looking to retail as a career opportunity,” the statement said. “A placement lasts for four to six weeks, and during this time jobseekers continue to receive benefits.”

So Poundland, essentially, is getting a government handout. Some people are looking to pursue careers in retail, Poundland has positions that they need filling, but instead of hiring these people and training them on their own dime, Poundland is using the Work Placement Programme to get their shelves stocked for free. That seem like a good use of public sector money to everyone?

(via political scrapbook)

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