A PROGRAMME helping long-term unemployed people into work was launched on Wearside by Minister for Work Nick Brown yesterday.
The minister launched the StepUp programme with the help of Margaret Moore, Sunderland district JobCentre Plus manager, at the George Washington Hotel, Washington, Wearside.
Washington and Houghton-le-Spring have been chosen for one of six pilot projects introducing the Department for Work and Pensions scheme.
It guarantees long-term unemployed people a job for up to 50 weeks, paying either the national minimum wage or the going rate for the job.
They will have full support from a dedicated worker.
Local employers, including car company Nissan and The Galleries shopping centre, Washington, have expressed interest in the programme.
Newcastle East MP Mr Brown said: "StepUp builds on the success of the New Deal programme to give more intensive help to those who have not already been able to find work.
"It is run by our existing JobCentres and the new network of JobCentre Plus offices, as part of our active welfare to work policy.
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