Should The Unemployed Be Compelled To 'Work For The Dole'?

In weeks 8-11 we will canvas some 'key policy debates' that in some way are controversial, divisive or cause debate amongst sections of the Australian community.

In your Key Issues Statement, you selected one of these debates as a focus for your final two assessments. You described the key stakeholders in respect to your chosen debate and the key issues at stake in the debate.

In this next, summative, assessment you are required to consider the debate and the key issues relevant to it and develop and defend your own position in respect to it. You make take the side of one stakeholder or group of stakeholders, or you may develop your own position.

This assessment addresses the CLOs. Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to:

1. Give an accurate account of what public policy is and how it affects our lives
2. Describe the general processes through which public policy is developed and implemented
3. Identify and analyse the ways in which different policy actors can enable and also limit the possibility of just and equitable policies
4. Apply policy analysis techniques to interpret and critique particular policies that relate to your professional field, and effectively present your findings

Key Issue 1: Transparency and Stakeholders

My chosen ‘policy debate’ is -should the unemployed be compelled to “work for the dole”

My position on this policy debate is that there is no better option than the unemployed working for the dole. Working for the dole is a life time opportunity given to these people by the government and it comes with a lot of benefits. Public policy can best be described as, the broad area of government, regulations, local ordinance, regulations and court decisions. Changing public opinion is one of the best ways of making lasting impacts on public policy. It assists in creating awareness among the stakeholders and the public in general. This means that the government has the platform they need for addressing pressing issues and by doing this the government expects to get the support of the people, both the taxed and non-taxed, and avoid a negative publicity in the media. Therefore there is no better choice by the unemployed than working for the dole.

Key issue 1: Public policy assists in transparency of the government. It ensures that the government intentions priorities and actions are clearly stated to the public and the public’s opinions are also put into consideration. Transparency between the government and the citizen s will assist in promoting a positive relationship between the government and its citizens therefore promoting a positive work relationship. In public policy, the problem is first identified and agenda is set, secondly the policy is developed, thirdly the issues is resolved and policy adopted then policy implementation and application takes place and lastly the policy is evaluated. From this it is evidence that there is an organized step that is followed by the government and the stakeholders which makes working for the dole genuine and reliable. (Richard & Corner, 1986) National Employment Services Association (NESA), The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) and Jobs Australia (JA) are among the stakeholders in the Dole program. These stakeholders are the overall overseers of this project. They work on government projects or contracts. They take part in the innovations that take place in this program. They also act as encouragement to those conducting this program and to the employees. This encourages them to work hard in meeting the company’s goal. Through these stakeholders, Dole is assured of maximum financial support. Keeping in mind that successful relationships with stakeholders are important for any company’s success (Department of Education employment and work relations 2009).

Key Issue 2: Employability Skills Development and Community Involvement

Key issue 2: The dole was enacted by the Australian federal government a program that acted as a form of workfare. It is a means that enables job seekers to satisfy what the government term as, ‘’mutual obligation requirement’’. The main activities involved in this work are: gardening and maintenance work, hospitality services, duties carried out in the warehouse, conservation or environmental activities, office administration and retail work. This kind of services, the Dole services are mostly delivered through the local government bodies or through community.  This is a very important program since it assists these individuals in several ways (Keogh, 2018). These unemployment benefits are only received by those registering as unemployed and it is normally on condition that they seek work.  Through working for the dole people from different social backgrounds, religion and ethnicity remain connected with the labour market. These individuals gain employability skills and at the same time it gives them the golden opportunity to give back to the community. This makes the dole special because it not only looks at your current situation but through it your future is secured. This is true because of the opportunities it gives its employees the opportunity of finding a permanent job.

Through this, the organizations that offer these job opportunities are able to get the extra hands they require which help in carrying out those tasks they could not get done, hence making their work easier. Without the Dole, these job seekers will find it difficult to satisfy their daily needs or even meet their basic needs, but with the Dole, these job seekers have gained the opportunities they are looking for which is to meet their mutual obligation requirements. Through this work program, people remain activated (citizens information).

Key issue 3:  Dole is a very important program since the labour market is highly competitive, by working for the dole; the unemployed people become even more competitive by building their skills and even capacity. This group of individual will be able to develop the skills that are needed by employers for instance reliability, team work and good communication skills. By the time they are employed their level of confidence would increase and this is a good indication that they are ready to start work (Haigh, 2012). Those who have stayed in this field for a long time meet new people and make new contacts and it is among these people that they may get individuals who may become their referee.

Key Issue 3: Benefits for Individuals and Society

People get the opportunities to get involved in their local community in one way or the other and this may lead to developments in their community. There are groups of individuals who get involved in this program and expect nothing in returns. In most cases they are known as volunteers.  According to the departmental analysis shows that these individuals on income support who work without payment, they have higher chances of getting jobs.

This program involves a youth Bonus Wage subsidies which is available for young people between the ages of 15 to 24. This will keep the youths busy and they won’t be idle, hence avoid getting involved in certain harmful activities like drug abuse, alcohol consumption or even crime. As they grow, they will have the spirit of hard work in them this will enable them grow into responsible men and women. Those who are 18 years old and are not in a full time and work for less than 16 hours a week have the opportunities to apply for a job seeker allowance, this is given in the condition that one is still looking for work (National career Development Association, 2015).

When this program was launched there was little opposition despite mixed feelings among young people. This program was role out to develop work habits in people and be able to involve the local community in some of its projects, the quality projects, these projects should be of value to the community.  The Australian government is responsible for the budget for the work plan of the dole. It acts as the main benefactor of this program. The government has been in support of this initiative in order to reduce the level of unemployment in the country. Reduction in the level of unemployment will result in reduction in the levels of crime, idleness among the youths and most of all improve in the Australian economy (Dalglish, 2016). The CWCs the department that runs this program is required to develop and manage work opportunities for job seekers in: other government or not-for-profit organizations and their own organization. This program not only considers the various individuals but the community at large.

Other organizations are also involved in the dole for it to go on with its daily activities, these organizations include; private sectors, beneficiaries and civil society. The private sector has been of great help to this program. The private sector has assisted in the supplying training services under competitive contracting with the public sector or with the employers. It has also developed employment skills which have assisted in the country. It has also helped in fostering entrepreneurship. This has enabled businesses to go beyond the human- capital limits and the economy eco-system have been enhanced through encouraging entrepreneurship a long the value chain. This has been possible through financial support for those who are staring and non-financial support such as mentoring, networking and training. Lastly the private sector has helped connect talent to markets. This is the connection of employees to employers through inclusion of the disadvantaged group or the marginalized in the community. A great working environment is that one that not only brings people together but creates brother out of these strangers, families out of these strangers. This not only builds the unity among these people but it strengthens the unity of the country at large (Job guide for western Australia 2014).

Conclusion

From my research it is right to conclude that it is important for the unemployed to work for the Dole since it comes with a whole package of benefits. Working for the Dole not only gives them the opportunity to cater for their daily needs, but it also provides them with the perfect chance of getting a permanent job. It brings different people together giving them the opportunity of interacting with each other hence developing relationships between these individuals and improves on the nation’s peace. These employees also get the chance of gaining more skills especially on other areas and knowledge on how to carry out these duties.  Lastly it cares for the entire community. All these makes the Dole a very important program in the country and everybody should work hard towards promoting it.

References

Dalglish, C. (2016). Small business training for challenging circumstances: developing entrepreneurs in the informal sector. Prahran, Victoria: Tilde Publishing Australia.

Haigh, Y. (2012). Public policy in Australia: Theory and practice. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.

Keogh, P. (2018). The green bell. South Melbourne, Victoria: Affirm Press.

Dep. Of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (2009). Job guide for South Australia 2009. Canberra.

National career Development Association. (2015). providing career services to multicultural population. Broken Arrow, OK.

Unemployment benefits and the minimum wage| NCOA. (n.d.)  retrieved from:  https://www.ncoa.gov.au/report/appendix-volume-1/9-11-Unemployment-benefits-minimum-wages.

Department of Education. (2014). Job guide for Western Australia 2014. Canberra.Citizeninformation.i.e.(n.d) Retrived from

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfaire_payments/unemployed_people/jobseekers_benefits.html.