Donna Walker said it all...
We should align our unemployment benefit policy like those in Spain get paid what you based on prior contribution and cease benefit payment after 20 weeks.

d, london, uk

There are multiple problems. First, it is uncool to learn or be clever. This idea is reinforced via the media - TV etc. Second, life is too easy on benefits. We will slowly be eaten alive in a increasingly global market place by people who want to learn and work.

Bruce, London, UK

High skilled people over fifty fall into this category too. They are refused work rather than not wanting it. How convenient of the Government to describe everyone as 'low skilled'.... not the truth or anywhere close to it. Typical Labour propoganda.

judy, liverpool, England

I'm sure the British themselves would be more inclined to work if they were earning x4-x7 as much as they normally do.

More interesting is that "apparenlty" these new workers are so good they defy even the most basic rules of supply and demand, by not impacting British workers wages, "apparently"

James C, Newcastle, UK

I see all comments are one-sided so far.

'Motivation' needs to come from both sides. When I started work our incentive to work evenings and weekends was to be paid a fair overtime rate.

These days companies expect you to work at any hour for the same rate while our peers enjoy their quality time.

Paul, Southampton,

I can not understand why this is news. Nu.Labours policies have created this society and now they struggle to understand it. This is proof that they just put hair brained schemes into opertion, not knowing what the consequences will be.

tiny, Birmingham , England

Sure the 'benefits culture' is to blame - but until taxpayers make the connection that it is THEIR taxes and business rates that is paying for this idleness, nothing will change.

Correction: when the government runs out of cash it will change.

MarkS, Leeds,

It is whitewash to say immigration does not reduce wages. Of course it does. And wages that anyway were usually far too low to be the 'family wage' a man requires to attract a partner. And then he's taxed to pay the tax credits of those who do have a partner; and for single parents. So why work?

Steve Moxon, Sheffield,

Remember that only one in 13 immigrants recently arrived are from Eastern Europe (according to the governments own figures). The overwhelming amount are from the Third World. How do, for example, Somalians benefit the economy? I don't ever remember being asked if I wanted mass immigration either!

Roger, Norwich,

Work shy mmm some are and some are not, but the biggest problem to over come is that our education system is quite poor for those who need extra tuition.And that many in the media and the public are quick to dismiss those who lack the social skills needed for interviews with government departments .

Clive, Dartford, Kent

Someone coming from an Eastern European Country where they have been paid about a £1 an hour coming to a job which pays £5-50p an hour are bound to work harder. Anyone getting paid 5 times there normal wage would work harder, human nature.

Geoff, Whitburn,

Migrant workers are (said to be) more motivated, work longer and harder etc than native workers but probably the reason for this is that they have come here only to work and to earn as much money as possible to save or send home. With no family to go home to after work what else is there for them to

Steve, Liverpool,

More training schemes and waste of the tax payers money. the simple fact is that it is all too easy to sit at home and claim the numerous benefits on offer.

Cut the benefits and people will start working.

Hamad Lone, London, England

British unemployed are not motivated to work because the Govt pays them to sit at home. Migrants from East Europe don't get paid much (if anything) to sit around doing nothing in their home countries. Our low-skill youngsters are failed by an education system which doesn't teach the non-academic.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

Go to any large supermarket and watch the customer flow at the checkouts. In amongst the usual snail's paced automatons, try the one "till" that is moving like lightning, manned by a cheery young woman.
Ask her where she is from. "Latvia" (or Poland, Lithuania etc) will be the inevitable reply.

Steve, London, UK

When will Britain come to terms with the fact that it is no longer GREAT and there is no Empire to rule over? It is time England took care of itself, cut off the flow of immigrants, and fixed economic problems at home by some other means than fighting wars abroad as the USA's lapdog.

Chuck Paugh, Portland, OR, USA

Our children are not being educated, instead they are spoon-fed just enough information to pass the SATs in order to justify a league table which does not reflect the true worth of the 'education' they receive, the NuLabour target driven regime does not work, especially in education.

Les Corrin, Southport, England

There is plenty of work in our country for those who want it. Not a week passes, however, without stories in the press confirming the workshy nature of the British worker and the generous nature of our welfare system. More sanctions are needed to reduce the number of indolent benefit scroungers.

Des, Edinburgh,