§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether those long-term unemployed54W claimants who participate in work trials on employers' premises under the pilot job interview guarantee scheme will be designated on the same ways as ET and YTS trainees for the purposes of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975; and what rights they will have if they are discriminated against by an employer or they experience an accident at work.
§ Mr. LeeEmployers providing work trials will be required by contract with my Department to treat participants in the same way as their employees for the purpose of health and safety. It is also our intention that participants will be entitled to receive payments under the analogous industrial injuries scheme.
In providing the trial period, employers will be required by contract to ensure that no discrimination takes place which is rendered unlawful by either the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 or the Race Relations Act 1976.
The procedure covering ET and YTS trainees, to which the hon. Member refers, is not applicable to work trial participants.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether those long-term unemployed claimants who participate in work trials on employers' premises under the pilot job interview guarantee scheme will be able to receive the same discretionary increases to their income without it being deducted from their benefit, as do those claimants who participate in employment training; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeParticipants in work trials will be reimbursed by the Department of Employment for travel and midday meal expenses incurred in undertaking the trial, up to maximum limits. These payments will not affect their benefit, although any other payments made in respect of the work trial could do so.