Work-shy benefit claimants could be forced to do compulsory full-time manual labour under proposals being put forward by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
Long-term dole claimants who are thought to need "experience of the habits and routines of working life" could be put on four-week mandatory placements of 30 hours a week doing jobs such as clearing litter and gardening.
Anyone refusing to take part or failing to turn up on time to work could have their £65 Jobseekers Allowance stopped for at least three months.
The Work Activity scheme is designed to flush out claimants who have opted for a life on benefits or are doing undeclared jobs on the side, as well as restoring the work ethic in people who have not been employed for years.
Reports suggested that it will target people believed to be sabotaging efforts to get them back into work.
Details will be unveiled in the Welfare Reform White Paper expected in the coming week, which will set out Mr Duncan Smith's plans for a universal credit to replace the range of benefits currently claimed by the jobless.
Under the scheme, job advisers would be given powers to require tens of thousands of claimants to take part in community work for charities or local councils. All postings will be designed to offer the jobseeker the opportunity to gain fundamental work disciplines and skills and be of benefit to their local community. They will be required to continue seeking permanent work while on a placement.
Some reports suggested payment for people on the programme could be as little as £30-£40 a week - the equivalent of around £1 an hour.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "We will shortly be bringing forward further proposals on how to break the cycle of dependency blighting many of our communities and make sure work always pays."
Mr Duncan Smith said his plans were designed to reduce welfare dependency and make work pay.
Work-shy benefit claimants could be forced to do compulsory full-time manual labour under proposals being put forward by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
Long-term dole claimants who are thought to need "experience of the habits and routines of working life" could be put on four-week mandatory placements of 30 hours a week doing jobs such as clearing litter and gardening.
Anyone refusing to take part or failing to turn up on time to work could have their £65 Jobseekers Allowance stopped for at least three months.
The Work Activity scheme is designed to flush out claimants who have opted for a life on benefits or are doing undeclared jobs on the side, as well as restoring the work ethic in people who have not been employed for years.
Reports suggested that it will target people believed to be sabotaging efforts to get them back into work.
Details will be unveiled in the Welfare Reform White Paper expected in the coming week, which will set out Mr Duncan Smith's plans for a universal credit to replace the range of benefits currently claimed by the jobless.
Under the scheme, job advisers would be given powers to require tens of thousands of claimants to take part in community work for charities or local councils. All postings will be designed to offer the jobseeker the opportunity to gain fundamental work disciplines and skills and be of benefit to their local community. They will be required to continue seeking permanent work while on a placement.
Some reports suggested payment for people on the programme could be as little as £30-£40 a week - the equivalent of around £1 an hour.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "We will shortly be bringing forward further proposals on how to break the cycle of dependency blighting many of our communities and make sure work always pays."
Mr Duncan Smith said his plans were designed to reduce welfare dependency and make work pay.