TUC welcomes step-change in unemployment policy

The
TUC has welcomed a government drive to tackle long-term unemployment.

Responding
to the announcement of six pilot areas for the Government’s Step-UP scheme
today, TUC General Secretary John Monks, said: "The New Deal and other
government programmes have been very successful at helping unemployed people to
get the jobs being created by a successful economy. The trouble is that, in
high-unemployment areas, there simply aren’t the jobs for long-term unemployed
people to move into.

"For
many long-term unemployed people this will be their first chance to work in a
real job, offering real wages, not a make-work scheme. So StepUP really is a
step-change in government policy and an important phase in the drive towards
full employment in every region."

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The
pilots announced today are in Cardiff, Sheffield, Sunderland, Lambeth, Oldham
and East Ayrshire. These will be followed by a further 14 pilots across
England, Scotland and Wales between June and December.

By Quentin Reade