Employers: the 'black hole' in ensuring no one is written off

Commenting on the publication of the welfare reform green paper No one written off: reforming the welfare state to reward responsibility Kate Green, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group said

“Reiterating the goal of a society free of child poverty by 2020 is very welcome, as is the full disregard of child maintenance which will help get more maintenance through to poorer families and the increased ‘access to work’ budget.

“The green paper gives great attention to increasing individual responsibility but ignores the responsibilities of employers to open up access to decent jobs. Poorly paid jobs and inflexible employers do nothing to support moves back into employment and may undermine family life. Bad employers must now be the urgent target for welfare reform.

“We reject the assertion that sanctions are effective – cutting already low incomes worsens poverty; most who are able to work are already trying hard to do so; and research continues to show how poorly understood the sanctions regime is by those who receive penalties”.

Notes for editors

• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
• CPAG is one of over 100 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Paul Dornan
CPAG Head of Policy and Research
07816 909302
pdornan@cpag.org.uk