Claims that a Manchester charity is profiteering from a ‘failed’ government scheme aimed at getting disabled workers back into work is a ‘sick insult’, according to a left-wing group.
Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF) are being paid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to help disabled workers who lost jobs following the nationwide closure of Remploy Factories get back into employment.
A Daily Star article revealed only 563 of 1,300 workers who lost their jobs have found employment since the launch of the £8million taxpayer-funded scheme.
In a separate controversy, the foundation was discovered to have made £336, 556 in Remploy-related contracts in the financial year up to March 2013.
Hugh Caffrey, North West regional Secretary of the Socialist Party who took part in a number of demonstrations against the factory closures, said: “The disgraceful closure of Remploy factories by this Tory-led government has taken a new and sicker twist with the figures quoted in the news over the weekend.
“The failure to provide jobs we already knew of is no surprise when the bankers’ crisis means millions still remain unemployed.
“But the suggestion that certain companies have profited out of this failure is a sick insult to former Remploy workers and their families.
“The factories should be re-opened and laid-off workers taken back on, as part of a plan to rebuild Remploy and reverse the devastation which austerity is enforcing on working-class people.”
However, MBF said the figures did not reveal the whole picture and that 961 of the 1,300 workers were either in work or training towards work.
“The figures do not recognise that ex-employees are individuals with varying support requirements some people will naturally take more time and additional training to become ready to take on a new job,” An MBF spokesman said.
“Mentoring and Befriending Foundation is a charity and operates on a not for profit basis.
“We are paid on a sub-contact basis to deliver an important service which ensures that ex-Remploy employees have the best possible support network in place.
“Mentors carry out this work on a voluntary basis and can claim up to £10 per month to cover travel and refreshments during their meetings.”
The mentors provide employment advice and provide support designed to help rebuild the workers confidence and motivation.
Picture courtesy of HelenCobain via Flickr, with thanks.
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