Unemployment.

[Kidiri]

Here in Belgium, some time ago, a couple of politicians were trying to press the unemployment rate by making the unemplyed work in sectors that aren't all that popular (e.g. cleaning, taking care of the elderly and ill...). But somehow, I can't remember who and why, other politicians boycotted this action.

I believe it was a very good idea. People will become more motivated to try and find a job if they HAVE to do something they don't like, then (obviously) unemployment rates would drop, the country would get a little bit more income, taxes could drop a little and the general standard would increase a bit.

Discuss.

well while these jobs are not exactly the best I suppose its better than nothing at all.

[Begoner]

If positions are being offered which no one wishes to accept, that illustrates a failure of the employer, not the job seeker. The solution to the problem is not to coerce the unemployed into taking undesirable jobs but rather to subsidize certain forms of employment (for example, taking care of the old and infirm) so as to increase the salary. Additionally, the government could take it upon itself to create jobs. Almost anything is better than the solution proposed by those politicians.

[Draconias]

Begoner is... right.

Wow. Anyways, unemployment (0 income) is a bad enough situation already. It is an absurd idea to try to force them into physically-demanding, entrapping jobs just because you (as a politician) want to look better.

[Joodah]

or, the government could stop any welfare type programs they have running (are there any in belgium?), and that might make them more eager to work.

[UWDarDar17]

Stopping a welfare program can often cause more discontent than it stops. While there are some people who are unscrupulous and choose to live off the work of others, many people on welfare either cannot work because they may have disabilities prohibiting them from most jobs, or extenuating circumstances, such as a single parent raising a young child by themselves, may restrict someone from working. It is these people that the welfare programs have in mind.

I, do, however, agree that those who can work, should work. If the only jobs available are those that are not particularly popular, well, then perhaps that person should seek gaining skills that would open up more oppportunities to him or her. Otherwise, that person should stop complaining and pick up that unpopular job. It will give them a source of income and some work experience (invaluable if one wants to move up in the world).

Rather than shutting down the welfare programs, perhaps they can be adjusted to more narrowly define those who recieve the welfare, differentiating between those who can't work, and those who won't work.