Unemployment benefits could be cut for people who refuse to learn English under plans to be announced by the Government on Monday. Welfare minister Jim Murphy will outline the plans for sanctions on benefits claimants to come into force in April.
Some 40,000 jobless people say not speaking the language is a barrier to them finding work.
Mr Murphy will say: "We must utilise the resources we have to redress the balance: to put the emphasis not just on translating language to claim a benefit, but to teaching language to get a job.
"Not just for the sake of employment rates, but for the benefit of the individual, their community and society as a whole."
The measure is part of a speech addressing unemployment rates among ethnic minorities which he will say are "unacceptable".
"It is unacceptable that ethnic minorities on average earn a third less that their counterparts across Great Britain as a whole."
Not enough of the language-learning opportunities at job centres are being taken up, he will say.
"Wherever possible, we would like them to participate in a work-focused language course, where they exist."
"People will be able and expected to look for work while they undertake any training, and in many cases there will also be the provision to carry on with the training course after they have got a job."
Via Yahoo
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