Workfare
What is Workfare?
Workfare is the obligation to do unpaid work in return for a welfare cheque. This obligation is in addition to the general obligation when on welfare to seek paid employment.
Workfare itself is not a training program. Training is a separate & voluntary component under the broader “Ontario Works” program.
What has become more generally known as “workfare” is called “Community Participation” by the government (Ontario Works: A Summary ). It is defined as “any unpaid community-service activity under the direction of communities and/or public or non-profit organizations. Placements can be sponsored by communities and/or public, non-profit or private-sector organizations and includes approved self-initiated placements proposed by participants.”
If a person on social assistance is considered “employable” then participation in Ontario Works is required. If not placed in one of the other programs such as employment support and employment placement, the person will be required to look for work and do community service.
Does everyone on social assistance have to participate?
“People with disabilities, seniors, and sole-support parents are not required to participate. As the program expands, sole-support parents, except those with young children, will also be expected to participate in the program.”
How does this directly affect people living with HIV/AIDS?
The program affects people with HIV who are now on general welfare. It may also affect more people with HIV when the new provincial government definition of disability comes in. The new definition of disability is expected to be more narrow. Some people with HIV could be moved to general welfare, be considered employable and then be required to do Workfare.
Why has the OAN taken a stand against Workfare?
There are several aspects of Workfare that have led the OAN to decide not to participate in Workfare:
- Workfare is forced work. It places people involuntarily into an organization that is volunteer based. It is contrary to the principles of voluntarism. The network of volunteer coordinators in AIDS organizations in Metro Toronto (NAVAM) has asked the OAN not to support Workfare.
- It is a demeaning, punitive approach to people on social assistance. It is simply forced menial work. It does not aim to provide training or skill development. It does nothing to challenge the stigmatization of people on social assistance, but rather further perpetuates the stigma. Workfare is contrary to the community view of people needing social assistance.
- The individual still has to live up to all the other commitments of being on welfare, such as job hunting. This adds stress to the individual and gives no guarantee of consistency to the agency especially given that the placements are only 6 months long.
- It violates employee rights and working conditions. It threatens existing jobs. Experiences in some U.S. cities have seen job cuts and workers replaced with welfare recipients despite statements to the contrary.
- Workfare will change the relationship between an AIDS organization and the individual on workfare in a negative way. Workfare demands that participating agencies supervise and report on individuals who are not living up to their placements. The sanctions are brutal. The individuals are denied 3 months of assistance for the first offence and 6 months for any subsequent occurrence, and, a single person can potentially be denied welfare altogether.
- There is disagreement about an agency's liability under workplace legislation (Worker's Compensation Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act). Legal advice would be essential for any agency to participate.
Concerns about Workfare resulted in a discussion at the OAN PHA caucus in November 1996. The PHA caucus brought forward a resolution to the general plenary on November 17 that was passed: That The OAN endorse an OAN policy of non-support and of non-participation in “Workfare”.
But won’t Workfare help non-profits by providing free labour to the agency ?
Workfare is not voluntary and should not be confused with our volunteer programs. For the assistance of a person on welfare the agency provides whatever orientation, training and supervision is needed. The agency coordinates the projects and is not reimbursed for this. The placements last only 6 months so any investment in training needs to be repeated with new people. People on Workfare still have the obligation to job hunt and that takes priority.
What if a person with HIV or another community member asks to do their Workfare placement at our agency?
This is the one question that groups are likely to find the most difficult. We may find volunteers or clients who are on social assistance asking to do a Workfare placement with us.
As much as we will want to help individuals, the problems with Workfare remain. We will place ourselves in a position of participating in a program that violates many of our values and principles. We are particularly concerned about changing our relationship with the individual. Workfare will place us in an untenable position of power with clients & volunteers. If problems arose, it would be our responsibility to report people to the government.
To accept a Workfare placement means becoming a participating agency in Workfare. To participate in Workfare will make workfare work.
Suggested points that can help your agency explain to individuals why you can’t accept a Workfare placement:
- Workfare will change our relationship with you. As a client you can use services here for free. You do not have to “work” for services. As a volunteer you can choose to change your commitment according to your changing personal situation. On Workfare, you will be obligated to work for us. If you have any problems meeting those obligations we would be expected to “report” you to Workfare. This changes the power dynamics in a way that we cannot accept.
- If we say yes to one person, we are supporting Workfare and saying yes to a program that is against all our values. For us to participate in Workfare is to support all that is wrong, demeaning and dehumanizing about Workfare.
- An important part of our work is to assist people to advocate for positive changes to systems. If we participate in a system that is so negative and punitive, people in the community may find it hard to trust us. If we help the government carry out a plan that hurts people, how “safe” an organization will people think we are?
What difference will it make for AIDS groups to refuse to participate?
There are simply not enough placements in the non-profit sector to meet the demands that Workfare will create. Refusal will make Workfare much less likely to succeed when we join with others. We can choose not to participate and include ourselves in coalitions of non-profit organizations who will not participate in Workfare. Together we can send a clear message back to the government. Workfare can’t work if non-profits don’t participate.
Will the government take action against us because we receive provincial funding?
The government has stated that agencies that receive government funding will not be forced to participate. There is always the possibility that this will change and that the government will bring pressure to bear on agencies that receive provincial funding. This might happen when it is clear that there will not be enough agencies to take all the potential placements.
If the government considers putting pressure on non-profits, it will be essential that our response is a collective response. A collective refusal and participation in coalitions of other non-profit agencies who also oppose Workfare, for example, Social Planning Councils, will be our best defence. The OAN believes that the possibility of threats is not reason enough to weaken the OAN position.
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Prepared for the OAN Advocacy Committee by
Joan Anderson, ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto) with information/input provided by:
Brent Patterson, CATIE (Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange),
Murray Jose, ACCKWA (AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area) and
Paula Greenwood, PARN (Peterborough AIDS Resource Network).
Background information provided by Social Planning Councils of Metro Toronto and Ottawa-Carleton.
Thanks to ACCKWA for their Board of Directors resolution attached as a sample.
March 17, 1997
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Workfare does not recognize the issues of PHAs such as confidentiality, safety, harassment and recognition of ongoing health issues or physical restrictions. Workfare is not congruent with Health Promotion which includes spiritual, physical and mental well being. In addition, Workfare undermines the spirit of volunteerism which is vital to the delivery of services to the community. Consequently, ACCKWA does not support and will not participate in workfare.
