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• 1. At 10:15am on 12 Jan 2009, gloriousnickyr wrote:

  I started a business in 2006 and have been using contractors. I now want to take on 2 employees but the cost of employing people is so high in terms of national insurance. And faced with the prospect of a hike in national insurance, I am probably going to continue to use contractors (freelancers).
  
  Can the government not find a way of giving tax relief on National Insurance for FIRST TIME employers?

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• 2. At 10:39am on 12 Jan 2009, rayw54 wrote:

  I got my pension early as part of the redundancy deal and after 10 weeks told was not going to get JSA. It cost £3.5 on the bus to sign on and 3 hour round trip for no help. Government are only interested if it costs them money.
  I am 54 with no support, I will be better off no working and claiming back tax paid on redundancy money.
  Once again the Government plan 'spending' money to help after the event and not stopping the event happening. If I wait until April I may get some help.
  

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• 3. At 10:50am on 12 Jan 2009, Cooljoolsx wrote:

  Mr Brown,
  You couldn't save my job, I was employed at my company for the last 16 years, unfortunately we were in the housebuilding industry. Now you are discriminating by offering my potential employers £2500 for taking on a person who has been out of work longer than me. I can look forward to a further 20 weeks of job seeking before I fall into this category. Stop putting stupid time limits on unemployment issues, no offer of training for the first six months, no mortgage help for the first 37 weeks, and now this. We need help today, so we can save our homes and contribute financially to society again.

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• 4. At 10:54am on 12 Jan 2009, nojobjohn wrote:

  I am 57 was made redundant in March.
  I do not qualify for JSA, so I guess do not appear in the unemployment statistics.
  My job centre told me it was not worth signing on and I could seek a job through their website at home.
  I want to retrain but as I am not signing on I cannot access the service.
  I looked at education grants but as I have a first degree from many years ago I am exempted.
  How do I and people like me who want to work access the services that are available to others,our personal economic prudence is costing us now.

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• 5. At 10:57am on 12 Jan 2009, AdrianDawson wrote:

  I am 55 years old and have been working as a self-employed plasterer for the last 3 - 4 years. With circumstances are as they are I am finding it very difficult to find employment. Sadly I have a very old criminal record that goes back 20 years; this will preclude me from applying for other vacancies that i am qualified to do. As there is, for many crimes, a period of time when the need for disclosure elapses, I suspect that this does not apply to me. My question is: can the "enhanced disclosure" be considered s"spent" after a certain period of time?

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• 6. At 11:13am on 12 Jan 2009, Vijayssrao wrote:

  Would it be better to make the labour market more flexible vis a vis hiring and firing or would it better to introduce a bit more "stickability"ie make it more difficult to sack employees?
  
  If it is easier for foreign companies to sack British workers rather than French or German workers won't they sack the British workers first?
  
  I am for free trade, free markets and free people how can you work towards these goals and what do think the benefits are to the whole of British society ?
  
  How competitive is the UK labour market?
  
  What skills need to be developed to enhance the employability of British workers?
  
  What role is there for the Unions in the process of job creation and employment?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• 7. At 11:24am on 12 Jan 2009, argripton wrote:

  Like many others, I do not qualify for JSA, therefore I am invisible ... apparently chronic back pain following a double slipped disc means that I am perfectly capable of working for a living (disregarding the aspect of needing to lie down a couple of times a day to relieve the pressure) ... any one need a part-time bed-tester?
  I have considered many entrepreneurial attacks on the jobs market - such as supplying free-range eggs to No. 10, pre-painted in the colours of Eton College, allowing Global Gordon, with shell-cracking spoon in hand, to achieve that feel-good factor every morning at his global breakfast.
  The scheme was discounted due to the fact that each egg would have to be held for a couple of weeks by the terrorist squad while they made further investigations (I wouldn't like to be that chicken when they get hold of her).
  Eventually, after exhausting all avenues, I have decided to write a book while being supported by a patient and understanding wife - yep, I know it's a long shot - but then so is borrowing billions more to pay for past financial mishandling of the economy.
  But it's a global situation, Global McGordon says so, it must be globally right - with global problems, global warming and all Christmas trees now stripped of their global globes - 2009 is going to get seriously and globally difficult.
  
  

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• 8. At 12:11pm on 12 Jan 2009, Penny Pemberton wrote:

  Mr Brown has spent much effort in cutting staff in Jobcentres, Revenue & Customs and the benefits agency in the last few years so why would anyone want to take his advice on saving jobs in the private sector? Many public departments are already verging on crisis point due to job cuts and will simply not have the experienced staff needed to deal with the increase in jobseekers and tax credit/tax refund claimants, never mind having to take on the work involved in implementing such incentive schemes.

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• 9. At 12:12pm on 12 Jan 2009, vanessacox67 wrote:

  Hello
  
  My experience echoes those above and i totally understand what people are going through and how let down people are....
  
  I'm appalled with Jobcentreplus and Labour!
  
  My husband has been ill for 2 1/2 years and unable to work. Ive been caring for him and working in supply teaching jobs when work is available. We have no support from the agencies that the PM and other ministers rave about. No training opportunities, no help looking for jobs or even with CVs and the attitude of the personnel is terrible. At the call centres they are rude and do not know what they are doing! They lose letters that we send and give wrong information. We have worked all our lives and we deserve better and so too does everyone else in this position. This has also had an impact on me and i have been off ill recently due the stress of it all.
  
  I was on R5 because i spoke with Hazel Blears who promised that she would give me answers to these issues. Despite this promise and me emailing her since I am still waiting for a response! Surprise, surprise!!
  
  I used to be a staunch Labour supporter. Labour are out of touch and help the wrong people. I will NEVER vote for them again. I'd like the Skills Minister and the PM to contact me and my husband to find out what 'help' we've had! The changes they have made to the benefits system have made our position worse! The new changes will not make any difference...
  
  

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• 10. At 1:44pm on 12 Jan 2009, sunloving wrote:

  It isn't my job security but the employment prospects of my children and grandchildren that concern me. I am terrified by the amount of debt that will be this government's lasting legacy to future generations. Please move over Gordon Brown and make room for David Cameron before you do any more damage.

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• 11. At 06:37am on 14 Jan 2009, Dennis_Junior wrote:

  Victoria:
  I hope that the Prime Minister can save the JOBS in the United Kingdom....
  
  ~Dennis Junior~

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