Manchester, England – The UK’s Employment Minister is moving to end discriminatory practices that have been denying benefits to unemployed observant Jews due to their unavailability on Shabbat.
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The JC.com (http://bit.ly/1cfjsiC) reports that new regulations—specifically targeting the problem—have been enacted and that Unemployment Minister Esther McVey, along with the national director of Jobcentre Neil Couling, have informed the Jewish charity group JCom of the changes.
More specifically, the issue is focused around some 50 cases—at least 15 of which involve observant Jews— generated out of the Manchester area, where local job centers have denied benefits to individuals refusing to work on Shabbat.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said that no disciplinary action will be taken against the specific job centers involved in the practice, but that re-training of its staff will begin and that its website will be updated to include the changes.
Bury MP’s Ivan Lewis, who arranged the meeting between McVey and Couling and the JCom, said, “The DWP made it very clear that legislation and guidance leading to observant Jews being penalized was wrong. They are willing to put that right, and that’s a very important step. But we will judge it on the facts and if Jewish claimants are still discriminated against, I will be the first to go back to the minister and say this is not what was promised.”