New Clause 13
Welfare Reform Bill
4:30 pm
Passporting of Jobseeker’s Allowance
‘(1) The Jobseekers Act 1995 (c.18) is amended as follows.
(2) After section 27 insert—
“27A Passporting of Jobseeker’s Allowance
(1) Regulations under this section may make provision for or in connection with allowing Jobseeker’s Allowance to be passported to employers of individuals who have been on Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least 18 months prior to their employment.
(2) Claimants to whom these regulations apply must be in receipt of the national minimum wage.
(3) Regulations under this section may, in particular, make provision for contracts of public works whereby employers will receive claimants’ passported benefits should they take into employment under such schemes claimants that have been in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least 18 months.
(4) The award of public works contracts may be rendered conditional upon a minimum percentage of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants being taken on by the employer concerned.
(5) Regulations may further make provision for Jobseeker’s Allowance to be passported to employers planning to make skilled or semi-skilled workers redundant.
(6) Regulations under this section may only apply to employees who would be entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance if no longer in employment.
(7) The passported benefits must be used to either—
(a) retrain the worker concerned, or
(b) permit retraining and employment as part of a reskilling package agreed between the employer and employee.”.’.—(Paul Rowen.)