Kwasi Kwarteng to cut benefits if part-timers don't work harder

More than 100,000 part-time workers could face a reduction in benefits if they don't properly seek to work more hours, Kwasi Kwarteng is set to announce in his mini-budget on Friday.

The Chancellor is set to reveal a significant welfare shake-up, with claimants currently allowed a 'lightweight' arrangement if working nine hours a week asked to take 'active measures' to work up to 15 hours a week from January. /p>

If they don't, under the new plan, their benefit payments under the Universal Credit Scheme could be reduced.

Mr Kwarteng described politics as "win-win" politics - presenting it as a way to fill 1.2 million vacancies across the country.

It comes as Liz Truss told an audience This Giants American businesses in New York that Britain has too many 'economically inactive' people following the Covid crisis - promising that the mini budget would 'encourage more people to go to work'.

The Labor accused Ms A series of lazy marks on British workers after she said British workers needed 'more graft' in a leaked audio recording that emerged during the Tory leadership race.

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Sir Keir Starmer was quick to respond to the benefits plan - with the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary referring to Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng's intention to remove the cap on bonuses from bankers. t work hard enough and need to be threatened with penalties, but bankers need bumper bonuses,” shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted.

The latest decision will see a threshold of 12 hours entering for more intensive work research scheme increased to 15 hours per week from January uary. People could have their allowances sanctioned if they don't seek to work 15 hours.

Under the changes, claimants over the age of 50 will also receive additional support from work coaches, while the newly unemployed will receive nine months of targeted sessions.

The Treasury says rising economic inactivity among the over-50s is contributing to a shortage in the labor market, driving up unemployment. inflation and limiting growth.

“Our labor market is remarkably resilient, but it's not perfect,” Kwarteng said. “We need to get Britain back to work. These incremental changes are aimed at getting people back to work and maximizing the hours people take to help grow the economy and raise living standards for everyone. benefit claimants at work - as well as reaching out to "people doing a very limited amount of work".

She told LBC: "That's why we continue to expand the number of people who are currently on benefits about how we can help them find possibly better paying work or take more hours.”

The latest announcement comes ahead of a mini-budget on Friday, at during which Mr Kwarteng is to present plans to drive growth and attract investment - including how he will pay guaranteed energy prices for households and businesses.

In addition to reverse a rise in National Insurance contributions and scrap a planned rise in corporation tax, it has been reported that the Chancellor will cut stamp duty in a further attempt to drive growth.

Ms Truss told bosses of companies such as Google, Microso ft and JPMorgan Chase that she wants "lower and simpler taxes" to attract businesses to the UK during a speech in New York on Wednesday.

She also said workers in strike in Britain are expected to 'get back to work', insisting she was still 'committed' to introducing measures to curb industrial action within 30 days of her time as Prime Minister.

< p>Speaking before concluding his trip to the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister told reporters: I would encourage the railway workers to return to work… I want to take a constructive approach with the unions, but I will tell them to get back to work.

This comes as nearly 400,000 employees are given a pay rise after a 'real living wage' increase agreed to by thousands of companies and organizations was proposed.

The hourly rates for t...