Work, welfare and pensions

Many people are forced to work too hard or too long, leaving little or no time for children, home and family. Too much work is meaningless and unsatisfying, while some work is unsafe, therefore damaging workers health. Other work is insecure, making people vulnerable to redundancy often brought about by intense competition and globalisation within companies and workplaces.

Despite the fact that many people have too much work, there are others who cannot gain employment because it is said they are too old, lack skills or live in the wrong location.

Everyone would receive a basic Citizen's Income to allow everybody to make meaningful choices between paid employment, part-time work, self employment, volunteering and encourage a better balance between work and everyday life.

We would also create a green economy with local jobs less vulnerable to changes in the global economy. We would extend workers rights to part time, casual workers and the self employed. Democracy in cooperatives and workplaces would be encouraged and the Green Party would value and protect carers and volunteers.

It is not just paid employment that benefits the economy. The economy is not able to function without workers, all of whom depend upon their homes for food, rest and recreation. The value of those who care voluntarily for the elderly is appreciated when we see the high price the market demands for such services.

Pensions are in crisis. The full state pension for a single pensioner is only £95.25, a massive decline since the link with earnings was broken by the Tory government in 1979. Many pensioners, especially women, don't even get a full state pension.

Private pensions are in crisis too. Some occupational schemes have failed, leaving pensioners who've contributed all their lives with nothing. Many firms are abandoning or weakening occupational schemes. Millions of people have been mis-sold under-performing personal pensions. Even apparently reputable providers have failed to deliver a reliable return.

The Green Party would introduce a Citizen's Pension that would pay pensioners a liveable amount, without means testing and would be linked to the rise in average earnings. Independent studies by the National Association of Pension Funds have shown that a citizen's Pension could be afforded today within current net expenditure on state pensions.

By abolishing tax relief on private pension contributions we can save enough money to provide much of the extra funds needed. It is the present system of means-tested top-ups that discourage saving, with the current tax-relief on contributions it is mainly the wealthy who benefit.

With a decent state pension it is unnecessary to make additional contributions compulsory. People should be free to decide how to provide additional security for themselves in old age. Voluntary private and occupational schemes organised for and by the workers and pensioners concerned should be implemented, rather than the current system which is used primarily to make money for banks and insurance companies.

We would encourage Local Community Pension Schemes that would invest in the local community and in public services, not the stock market. This would offer stable returns, not dependent on speculation or vulnerable to mis-management.

Pension Credits do not solve the problem. The Government admit that take-up is inadequate, and many poor pensioners will not get them. Pensioners should not have to leap through the hoops of complicated and demeaning means tests in order to get a decent pension.

Just as Greens believe that we should leave the planet in a fit state for our children, we believe that we all owe older people a decent standard of living without demeaning means tests. The foundation of doing so is a proper state pension for all.

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Work, welfare and pensions

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