Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed a summit on violence against women at 10 Downing Street in central London on November 25, 2024. – AFP
The British government announced on Tuesday its intention to enhance access to mental health support and reform job centres as part of its strategy to boost workforce participation. The initiative will focus on regions with high rates of labour market inactivity, and job centres will shift their emphasis from benefits enforcement to career guidance, according to a government statement.
Details of the comprehensive plan were scheduled for release later on Tuesday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set an ambitious target of elevating Britain's employment rate to 80%, up from the current 75%, as part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic growth. Britain stands out as the only major economy where the inactivity rate surpasses pre-Covid-19 levels, primarily due to a notable increase in long-term ill health among the unemployed. However, economists caution that issues with official jobs market data may exaggerate the problem.
The government will disclose its plans for reforming the health and disability welfare system at a future date, aiming to encourage more individuals to either enter or remain in the workforce. Long waiting times for mental health treatment and overburdened National Health Service resources are identified as contributing factors.
"This government inherited a country that simply isn’t working. But today we've set out a plan to fix this," stated Starmer, whose Labour Party secured victory in July's parliamentary elections. Peter Cheese, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, expressed support for the job centre reforms, noting that less than 10% of employers currently view them as an effective recruitment tool.
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