A plan to offer work or training to anyone under the age of 27 to prevent young people from becoming dependent on welfare has been approved by the cabinet.

The plan was put forward by junior social affairs minister Ahmed Aboutaleb on Friday and will give local councils the responsibility to find a job or a training course for unemployed people under 27. Those who refuse will no longer have the right to welfare benefits.
‘Young people who are healthy in mind and body do not belong on welfare,’ Aboutaleb told news service ANP. He saids that official figures from April this year put the number of young people under 27 on welfare at around 29,000.
A similar initiative by the former government in 2005 was rejected by the Council of State as unpractical. However under the new proposal, certain groups such as young mothers and handicapped people are exempt from the compulsory scheme.
The new system is due to be introduced in 2009.