Why Welfare Recipients should be Forced to Perform Volunteer Work for their Welfare Cheque
Welfare recipients should be forced to perform volunteer work; that is , some form of labor must be performed in return for the assistance of a welfare cheque. Welfare costs constitute a large percentage of the expenditure for provincial governments. ... Volunteer work is one action that benefits both individuals and their community. Low complexity volunteer tasks can be performed as opposed to individuals remaining socially inactive. Cost welfare recipients are able-bodied people, with only a small percentage of recipients being disabled. This means that the vast majority of recipients have the ability to work, even those with disabilities should make some contribution, complex or not, depending on the disability. A citizen in a wheelchair for instance, could man a service counter or perform first level operational labor, such as customer service. ... A vicious circle is created drawn from idleness, to laziness and back to a lack of motivation to look for work again, driving the society to low productivity levels. Losing the habit of going to work, might have the adverse effect on future career prospects who might not feel inclined to accept offers available to them. Having been accustomed to a routine not involving work, they will probably feel resistance to the idea of serious work commitment. If on the other hand, they have been keeping active with volunteer work, adaptation will become easier as soon as an opening presents itself for them. ... Many benefits accrue from having welfare recipients perform volunteer work because of the skills they will acquire or hone. In many forms, recipients performing volunteer work hone their interpersonal skill by remaining active with the public in general. ... Through volunteer work, different skills such as organizational, technical, adaptive and learning can later serve as personal or professional culture. For instance, the use of a computer might have been unknown to a welfare recipient who can learn how to operate and read the computer system language or more. On the other hand, volunteer work can help discover hidden talents or passions. For example, if volunteer work is performed in a hospital, the citizen might form or uncover a passion for helping ill people and might just put his or her talent to work. ... Welfare recipients have the opportunity to create contacts that might be helpful in the future. In the course of their volunteer work, they will encounter professionals and others working in various fields who may be able to assist them with getting a job in the future. Meeting the right person at just the right time can prove to be a great stroke of luck welfare recipients may miss out on if they collect their cheques by sitting around. ... These contacts will be able to see for themselves that the welfare recipient is able to handle the job. If the welfare recipient does not work, he or she will never be able to prove to others their reliability. Another way contacts might learn about welfare recipients, is by asking others for references. ... With a proven track record, the welfare recipient performing volunteer work is the most employable. ... Youth could also benefit form the aid in community centers, day camps and social work with families in need. ... The poor and homeless can also benefit if more volunteer work is done in partnership with organizations like Sun Youth and Harvest Montreal.