Job Guarantee ?

I refer to the article “Can we end unemployment” in the Straits times “Opinion” section dated 6 January 2021. 

Ideally, a job guarantee scheme saves job and puts people into productive work which sounds logical and economically sound.  It however assumes citizens of being incapable of relying on themselves to seek work or create jobs. 

Unintended effects caused by a Job guarantee could be: 

Private sector becoming “lazy” in the longer term, purposefully retrenching workers because it cannot cope with higher costs. Workers choosing to leave employed work  because of guaranteed work easily available anywhere, anytime in the social sector. 

In the long run, it is also easier for individuals to lean towards depending on a job guarantee to  generate work rather than to generate work by ourselves.

Entrepreneurial spirit could be stifled, so what would happen to creativity and thinking out of the box?

Life is not always a bed of roses. Kindness should be extended when being asked for. This is especially useful when groups of individuals in certain sectors need temporary help. The question is what is the definition of neediness? He who does not seek, should not receive. On the contrary, he who seeks, by action or by thoughts, should and would receive what he thinks and asks for. What about the ones who receive more help than necessary? 

A policy which has good intentions may turn out to be one which creates more problems later if not carefully thought through, discussed and ponder about.