Slave labour?

A lass I used to work with was worried that her younger brother wasn't going to make himself a good career because he didn't have any interest in anything academic. I asked her, is she worried because he is lazy? Oh no, she said, he isn't lazy, he wants a job but isn't bothered what it is. So what's the problem then? I asked. He'll end up with something rubbish like working in a shop or something she replied. Then she added, who wants to work in a shop? To which I replied, someone who just wants to earn enough to live on without having to get into loads of debt and then spend several hours a day commuting to and from work.

Youngsters these days are brainwashed into believing the have to get a degree, and that once they do they will instantly be able to ask for £40k plus. Its not their fault, they are brainwashed from an early age. If they want a degree, good luck to them. They'll graduate with a big head and no ability to do the job, and will need an employer to take a leap of faith on them, hire them at £20k and lose money hand over fist for the first 6 months until they start to learn the job. Meanwhile, we have to bring people in from abroad to mend our plumbing, electrics, cars, everything else, because despite tradesmen these days being on excellent rates of pay compared to many 'professionals', nobody wants to do it any more because its either too much like hard work, or its beneath them.

 

There will always be more over 25 unemployed than under 25, simply because there are more of them.

My thoughts on the NVQ system, (and I can only speak for the job I am in), is that its not really worth much.
You can actually come out of it in the end with reams of paperwork and loads of photos, but still be very iffy regarding actually doing the job.

I remember when I'd finished my four years apprenticeship, I was still learning, but it was four years on the job training, not much writing and learning basic skills.
You cant learn skills writing about them, and you need a certain aptitude to do the job.

Too many kids are only pushed into manual jobs once they have exhausted all the other options.

Result, manual jobs tend, (speaking generally), to only attract the less motivated these days.

 

Our country like many others is in a mess and anything that the governement does will have it's critics and there is little anyone can do to change that. Sadly this type of initiative is not new and can only be seen as a temporary measure whilst efforts are put in to create an improvement in the economy which could lead to a reduction in the numbers of jobless people under or over 25.

Regrettable as it is, as an OAP I can do little to improve my lot but I wish that those who manage to avoid the pain of taxation by using the multitude of options open to them
(off-shore companies/funds etc) could be brought to book.

 

One thing that's always bugged me a bit is that its always the youngsters that get the bulk of the help. Or so it seems at least. If you find yourself unemployed and struggling to change that fact once you're past 25, tough.

Youngsters have apprenticeship schemes, graduate placements, this new scheme that everyone's kicking off about now, and the advantage that employers generally prefer their staff to not be old (of course nobody admits that, but its very true, and well recognised enough for the government to feel it necessary to bring in laws supposed to prevent age discrimination).

Of course I don't begrudge youngsters all these things. Its not that long since I was one myself. I just think the government should practice what they preach about age discrimination and treat everybody the same.

 

Hiya chums.

Personally, in general terms, I think the scheme is a good one. Will some employers take advantage? Yes, of course, but for the most part, those that ACTUALLY want a job, will get some benefit out of this scheme, imo. I believe the truth is, that there are MANY that think that benefits are a career choice, and one could GIVE them a job, and they wouldn't be interested. The 'do-gooders' will point at the negatives, but I think that as with anything, perfection is un-obtainable, so they should just shut up!

 

Great point Shiney. In the words of George Michael (no less!), "These are the days of the beggars and the choosers".

 

Just re-reading Jack's post about interpreters ... a friend of mine, who has Spanish as a first language, was once paid to make regular trips to a South American family which was living in a Kent village. Her job was to make sure the children didn't 'lose their culture'. Very nice for my friend (even her travel expenses were paid) and very nice for the kids ... wonder whether any other nation on earth would run a similar service for stranded Brits, so that they didn't 'lose their Britishness'? I have visions of a nice sparky Londoner being shipped over to Gawd-Knows-Where in order to chat to my family in English and remind us of pie and mash, cockney rhyming slang and Big Ben.

Back to the thread: posh kids routinely spend some time working for nothing. Mummy and Daddy move heaven and earth to get them work experience in nice places so that they can put all sorts of jolly things down on their CVs. I don't see any reason why less privileged kids shouldn't do the same sort of thing, even if the placements aren't as pleasant. You have to start somewhere.