In the UK, Liz Kendall, the UK’s work and pensions secretary, has announced a series of reforms to job centres and the sick pay system, aimed at encouraging millions of people to return to work.

“If you can work, you should work,” Kendall said, stressing the need for radical change. Among the measures proposed were a more modern system for job centres and a “youth guarantee” for 18-21 year olds, which would include compulsory training or employment, with the risk of fines for those who refuse. Kendall also criticised the current system, saying it was “not equipped to deal with the rise in chronic disease” and needed “a major overhaul”.

With a record 2,8 million people out of the workforce due to chronic illness, the minister said further reforms in the coming year will restructure disability benefits, which have seen a surge in claimants since the Covid-19 pandemic. Kendall also stressed the need for reforms that make the system more flexible to accommodate long-term conditions and support those who can return to work: “We will work with disabled people and their organisations to improve the system, but change is necessary.”

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