Forum Topic

Is this a good idea?

Prisoners to plug worker shortage in meat industryhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58303679Food suppliers resort to hiring prisoners on day release as HGV driver shortage could disrupt Christmashttps://inews.co.uk/news/uk/hgv-lorry-driver-shortage-eu-workers-10000-visas-christmas-logistics-uk-1162285

Ivonne Holliday ● 1624d7 Comments

We definitely don't want to go the way of the US with their prison system.  So many repeat offenders caught up in it unable to move on going in and out because of the way their system works.  Yes, training and jobs should be offered as part of rehabilitation.Why aren't there already enough British people training and working in these jobs, you have to ask?  Presumably because of our addiction to cheap everything and working conditions including pay. The race to the bottom.  Some Councils are offering training - but it takes time to get all the qualifications needed to drive the larger vehicles...  It just shows how little some important jobs are appreciated.

Philippa Bond ● 1624d

Sean why single out China? - the US prison population is 7 times bigger than China's (per 100,000). Yey it is hardly mentioned in the UK!https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/23/prisoner-speak-out-american-slave-labor-strikehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/06/prisons/html/nn2page1.stm

Ed Robinson ● 1624d

Is this like what the Chinese are doing with their prisoners?

Sean Hodges ● 1624d

Meaningful rehabilitation and training for prisoners should be the norm anyway, but is sadly neglected and under resourced. It takes a shortage on our supermarket shelves for us to wake up and realise that it may be a good idea.

Caroline Whitehead ● 1624d

I agree Ed, why should it not? Rehabilitation and training. But interesting that this is seemingly the last resort as I'm sure there are people currently out of work.  Are they just not interested?

Maxine Campbell ● 1624d

If it is part of a rehabilitation programme that offers real training and full time employment with decent wages afterwards then yes.

Ed Robinson ● 1624d

I'm sure they know how to use a meat cleaver. Whether for the right reason.

Barbara Stevens ● 1624d