The Royal Infirmary is using the governments compulsory slave labour scheme Project Work. Unemployed people are being forced to work in the hospital without pay, under threat of their benefit being cut. What does the use of conscript labour mean for standards of patient care?
Under threat of the 100% removal of their benefits, unemployed people are being compelled to do jobs in the catering and portering sections of the Royal Infirmary, and to do cleaning in the hospital for Initial Health Care Services. (Project Work is also being used in the Western General and the Eastern General, and possibly in other hospitals too.)
The unemployed conscripts are not paid a wage for this work. Instead they only receive their normal benefits (£38.90 or £49.15 depending on age) plus an extra £10 per week, out of which they have expenses such as bus fares, etc..
Project Work
• reduces standards of patient care - people forced to work for nothing are hardly likely to be enthusiastic diligent workers.
• attacks the job opportunities, wages and conditions of hospital workers through the use of conscript free labour.
• attacks the rights of the unemployed.
The use of a considerable number of Project Work conscripts by the Royal Infirmary suggests that there is a need for more staff. If this is the case then new jobs should be advertised, with decent wages and conditions. Standards of work, and ultimately patient care, should not be jeopardised by Royal Infirmary management trying to get forced labour for nothing.
Project Work is a discredited scheme, devised by the Conservative goverment, and, amidst much criticism, continued by Labour. It compels people aged 18 - 50 and unemployed for over 2 years to work for an employer, without wages, for 18 hours per week for 13 weeks.
Project Work has been condemned by many charities and voluntary organisations. Karen Spooner, chair of Humberside Voluntary Sector Alliance, has said, "We didn't think it ws appropriate to offer placements, particularly in care work, to people who were compelled to be there under threat of losing their benefit." Paul Zealey, of Community Service volunteers Scotland said "We will not be taking part, and most voluntary sector providers will be reluctant to participate." (Scotsman 12.12.96)
This leaflet has been produced by an independent group of unemployed people and other claimants. We urge the Royal Infirmary to withdraw from Project Work. We appeal to hospital workers to pressurise the hospital management to withdraw from Project Work. If the Royal Infirmary persists in using this forced labour scheme, then we will be forced to take action against this exploitation, including the possibility of public demonstrations.
Published by Edinburgh Claimants c/o 17 W. Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA. Tel 0131 557 6242.
General Project Work Leaflet,