New Unemployment Bill to Require Community Service in South Carolina

Should unemployed workers in the state of South Carolina not find a job within six months, they will be required to volunteer 16 hours each week if they wish to continue receiving a check under a bill that has been put up for debate by a Senate panel.

The bill is being presented to fellow lawmakers by Senator Paul Campbell; one that he says will make South Carolinians more attractive to employers within the state. “If you’re out of work more than six months and there’s a job that you can do both mentally and physically, then you’re required to take that job,” he said.

Unemployed people would be impacted if they have been on benefits for six months and have not accepted a job they have been offered. If this happens they must begin volunteering for 16 hours per week.

“If you’re not working and you can do something to support the community and network at the same time, I think it’s something positive, it gives you a good mental attitude, makes you feel better about yourself and I just think it’s a win, win situation for everyone,” Sen. Campbell said.

There are some in the area who agree with Campbell and the bill. Via Facebook, Tracy Conrad Richter said:

“I think someone could learn a new skill while helping out.”

Then there are other people in the area who argue for the side of welfare:

“If you are getting unemployment that means that you held down a job at some point and not everyone that loses a job is at fault. It’s not like it’s welfare either because companies have to pay a certain amount of that money. If you want to do something like that why don’t you make the people on welfare do 16 hrs of volunteering.” Diana Buchalski said.

The bill says that a person’s unemployment benefits would be discontinued if a person does not accept a job or volunteer each week they are unemployed after the six months.

The bill will go up for debate on Tuesday while lawmakers continue to research whether the bill breaks any federal laws. The senior attorney for the National Employment Law Project claims that the bill does violate federal law. George Wentworth also says it creates negative stereotypes of the unemployed.