Public employment programmes balance the need for both economic and social aspects of well-being while a basic income grant prioritises economic well-being, while social well-being and social value is overlooked, writes Lauren Stuart.
, like a sense of being productive, fulfilled and building work-based camaraderie. It could also compromise the benefits imparted to the wider community by such programmes, especially those that promote social care and social cohesion.
I conducted 16 in-depth interviews with people involved in public employment programmes, five interviews with key informants from the community and held a focus group for community members. This was a qualitative study and is not meant to be generalisable: I wanted to hear in-depth accounts from participants and the community about their experiences with and views of public employment programmes.
, where the most vulnerable were being cared for and supported. Services which helped to keep the community safe and clean were also emphasised as being of value. Participants also expressed some frustrations with the programmes. The work was often tough; for example, caring for vulnerable community members - some of whom could not walk or wash themselves – in their homes was emotionally and physically taxing for some participants.
It is also important to note that those that seemed to derive the most fulfilment from this work tended to benefit from other forms of government support, such as housing and other forms of cash transfer like the child support grant or an old age pension.This study demonstrated that replacing public employment programmes with a direct cash transfer like a basic income grant could significantly undermine social value formation at the individual and community level.
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