A Dundee campaign group has launched a petition to persuade the local authority to make the Dundee a ‘no workfare city’.
Workfare is an umbrella term for various government schemes that place benefit claimants on unpaid work experience – a practice that divides opinion.
The DWP say that the schemes help unemployed people into work, but the Dundee Unemployed Workers’ Network members disagree.
Activist Sarah Glynn said: “We believe that a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay, and no-one should be forced to work for benefits. We have discussed this with the city’s Fairness Commission who have backed us, but we now need this to translate into action.”
The DUWN are calling on the council to agree that it will not be party to any workfare schemes and that it will make non-participation a condition for any organisation in receipt of council funding.
The group are also asking the the local authority to give official backing to a campaign to give formal recognition to all organisations who agree not to participate in the schemes.
Councillor Jimmy Black, Chairman of the Dundee Fairness Commission, said: “We believe workfare is unacceptable, so we will be making recommendations to the Dundee Partnership, who will then take this foreward.”
A DWP spokesman said: “Our schemes help the long-term unemployed gain valuable work experience and improve their chances of getting a job. Work experience placements do not replace existing roles and Jobcentre Plus staff always work hard to ensure people in Dundee get the help they need to move into work.”