A NEW scheme to get people back to work that will also allow employers to claim a £500 grant for taking on the unemployed has been launched.

The scheme – known as the U programme – is a joint initiative of a number of States committees and has a target of getting at least 100 unemployed people jobs in the weeks and months ahead.

It has been launched in response to a growing number of jobless in Jersey.

Figures released last week show 674 people had registered as unemployed at the Job Centre at the end of last year.Meanwhile, employers who are considering participating in the scheme will not face bureaucratic delays as a result of the job licensing process.

The Regulation of Undertakings office – which determines how many staff firms are allowed to employ – has given assurances that an immediate or same day answer will be given to companies interested in taking on an unemployed person under the U programme.Employers will be able to call what is hailed as a hotline – the department’s normal telephone number 603710 – to make their inquiries.

However, Citizens Advice Bureau manager Francis Le Gresley said he was surprised that there was not a dedicated freefone number for employers to call.Only people who have been registered as unemployed with the Employment and Social Security department for at least four weeks are eligible as U programme candidates.