Work Programme

In Wales two companies have the contract to provide the Work Programme. One of them is Working Links who have a contract based over seven years totalling 115 million pounds.  They are supposed to have around 73,000 people through their doors in that time and hopefully find around 45% a full time job. (32,850)

Working Links states that they have managed to place 22,000 in work since 2000.   I would be interested to see the breakdown of those figures.

I have attended their offices in Cardiff on at least seven occasions.  The most recent occasion left me concerned about vulnerable people who don't have the courage to speak up when they are being treated badly.  I made a complaint to Working Links and on their website they say one of their people will get in contact with you shortly.  I waited seven days for a reply and on friday I made the same complaint again to see if they really take complaints seriously.

They have a suggestion box in the office in Cardiff but I can't take it seriously as the woman who interviewed me refused to answer a question I asked during the time allotted to my appointment.  In open plan offices we all have to accept that the data protection act means nothing. although my complaint wasn't about that. 

I am all for the unemployed finding jobs that will give them a bit more money in their pockets at the end of the week. More than likely the people employed at these offices would do anything to keep their jobs than end up on the other side of the desk.