workfare

American  

[wuhrk-fair] / ˈwʌrkˌfɛər /

noun

1. a governmental plan under which welfare recipients are required to accept public-service jobs or to participate in job training.

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workfare British  

/ ˈwɜːkˌfɛə /

noun

1. a scheme under which the government of a country requires unemployed people to do community work or undergo job training in return for social-security payments

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Etymology

Origin of workfare

First recorded in 1965–70; work + (wel)fare

Example Sentences

As an assistant pastor, Mr. Warnock publicly criticized the Giuliani administration’s implementation of a workfare program — which required welfare recipients to work for benefits — and made an impression on a number of elected officials himself, as well as on Mr. Butts.

From New York Times

The reactionary version is workfare.

From Los Angeles Times

Workfare came to serve as the main response to job loss.

From The Guardian

The JG should not devolve to either workfare or welfare … Workers can be fired for cause — with grievance procedures established to protect their rights, and with conditions on rehiring into the program.

From Salon

By placing around 200,000 unemployed Hungarians on government-run workfare programs instead of encouraging them to enter formal employment in the private sector, the government has prevented a large group of potential workers from entering the primary job market.

From New York Times