We’ve recieved a petition today, which we think our readers should know about. If you are unemployed or about to be unemployed this is important, the government’s plans may affect you all.
Ask your MP to stop the government changing the law on workfare
On Tuesday 19 March, MPs will debate the jobseekers (back to work schemes) bill. PCS is asking you to lobby your MP to oppose this bill, which not only seeks to rob incorrectly sanctioned jobseekers of reimbursement, but also sets a dangerous precedent.
The bill has been introduced by the government because last month the Court of Appeal ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had acted illegally in sanctioning jobseeker’s allowance claimants on workfare schemes.
The bill seeks to retrospectively change the law to excuse the DWP from reimbursing wrongly sanctioned claimants like Cait Reilly and Jamie Wilson (who brought the successful case). The DWP estimates that around 225,000 people would be entitled to an average reimbursement of £550 for being incorrectly sanctioned.
The bill would set a dangerous precedent if passed – sending the message that when citizens defeat the government in court, it can overturn the court ruling retrospectively with primary legislation – effectively making the government above the law.
Click here to sign the petition
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