Government to close 20 temporary Jobcentres, risking jobs
The Department for Work and Pensions plans to close 20 temporary Jobcentre locations that were created during the global pandemic.
The GMB Union alleged that the closures would affect services “and put GMB Union members’ jobs and futures at risk”. More than 50 jobs will be put at risk by the scheme, the GMB said in a media statement. The GMB told Recruiter that they learned of the plan in a briefing this week.
GMB members work as security at the sites.
However, the DWP has denied the severity of the claims. The locations to close were created during the pandemic to increase the space available for Jobcentres to accommodate social distancing, a DWP spokesperson said. Increased numbers of jobseekers also contributed to the need for additional space, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said: “We no longer need the temporary space we acquired during the pandemic due to social distancing. To continue providing our essential employment support and other services in a way that is cost efficient for the taxpayer, we are phasing out these temporarily leased sites and our staff and all customer services will return to the nearby established Jobcentre.
“The closing of these temporary sites will not reduce our levels of service, or access to face-to-face appointments. Customers will return to being served by their established Jobcentre and there will be no reduction in the number of Work Coaches serving customers as a result.”
The DWP spokesperson went on to say: “We always said these additional Jobcentres were temporary in response to the specific demands of the pandemic, and it is important that we continue to strike the right balance between providing essential services for claimants and delivering value for money for the taxpayer.”
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “The proposal to close DWP sites will not only cost jobs but will undermine government rhetoric about growing the labour force. GMB members, who work as security at these sites, will have their jobs and futures put at risk.
“This plan makes no sense when the government is touting warm words on growth and employment.”
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