New York City has subscribed to the scheme of "Workfare."  The problem with "Workfare" is that it not only fails to pay a living wage to recipients, in pays so little relative to the hours occupied that it is tantamount to a slave labor system.

A single adult with no dependents received a biweekly stipend of $73.  That's it.  Seventy-three dollars.  They are required to report to an organization called Federal Employment Guidance Services (FEGS), where they are supposedly aided to find work.  FEGS has several job developers in their employ, but they often forget to look for work for many of their clients, or to represent their needs.

FEGS places clients in the Work Experience Program, or WEP.  This program places public assistance clients (and "clients" is the term that they use for recipients) in part-time positions with non-profit organizations.  FEGS promises that many of these clients are likely to employ those WEP participants with whom they are satisfied, but he majority freely admit to clients that hiring them is not within their budget.  Between the 8AM and 5PM, welfare recipients are required to either be at their WEP assignment or at FEGS, where they are supposedly to look for work on the computer, although much of that time is spent in holding rooms because of inadequate facilities.

Seventy-three dollars biweekly for eighty hours occupied is approximately ninety-two (92) cents per hour.  Welfare does not pay for any housing beyond $215 per month, and they require landlords to agree to accept only $215 each month with no supplements.  If the client has family who are assisting them, they are not allowed to have the $215 to apply to their rent.  In one sense, receiving 92 cents per hour is worse than slavery, because slaves at least had room and board, meager as it was.  The only thing I have left out if this summary is that clients are also given weekly unlimited Metrocards so that they have no excuse not to be present at FEGS or to appear at their WEP assignments.

The public assistance program in New York City is nothing more than a racket such that non-profits can receive free labor at a minimal cost to the government.  It is imperative that such employees be paid at least minimum wage for their work.