Connect with us

Business

Inquiry to review rising levels of youth inactivity

Published

on

Inquiry to review rising levels of youth inactivity


An independent review into the rising number of young people not working or studying is being launched by the government.

Former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn will lead the inquiry into “Neets” – the acronym for young people who are not in education, employment or training.

According to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, the persistently high number of 16-24 year olds falling out of education or work is a “crisis of opportunity” requiring urgent action.

It is not a new problem but the number of young people who are Neet – now one in eight – has been rising in recent years and is approaching one million.

A quarter cite long-term sickness or disability as a barrier and the number claiming health and disability benefits is rising too.

The government says Alan Milburn’s review will dig into the reasons behind the rise and examine ways of cutting the long-term costs of youth inactivity and getting young people off benefits and into work.

Its conclusions will be published next summer.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the broader benefits system unsustainable and unfair but so far selling welfare reform to Labour backbenchers has proved a political minefield for Number 10.

According to the Department of Work and Pensions, the number of young people claiming UC Health and Employment Support Allowance has risen by more than 50% over the past five years.

Some 80% of young people on the UC Health element currently cite mental health reasons or a neurodevelopmental condition.

Asked whether he thought over-diagnosis was fuelling a mental health crisis among young people, McFadden was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying: “I don’t want to play amateur doctor. I want to approach this with sensitivity.

“The question I’m asking is, given the higher reported number of these conditions among young people, what is the best policy response? I don’t believe there should be an automatic link between diagnosis and benefits.”

“If we get this right,” he added, “the prize is huge: transforming lives and life chances, with the pent-up potential of the next generation firing our economy and building a better future for all.

“We cannot afford to lose a generation of young people to a life on benefits, with no work prospects and not enough hope.”

Milburn said his review would be “uncompromising”, and expose any failings in employment support, education, skills, health and welfare.

“We cannot stand by and let a generation of young people be consigned to a life without employment or prospects,” he said. “It’s clear urgent action is needed.”



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Without Rera data, real estate reform risks losing credibility: Homebuyers’ body – The Times of India

Published

on

Without Rera data, real estate reform risks losing credibility: Homebuyers’ body – The Times of India


New Delhi: More than 75% of state real estate regulators, Reras, have either never published annual reports, discontinued their publication or not updated them despite statutory obligation and directions from the housing and urban affairs ministry, claimed homebuyers’ body FPCE on Friday. It released status report of 21 Reras as of Feb 13.The availability of updated annual reports is crucial as these contain details of data on performance of Reras, including project completion status categorised by timely completion, completion with extensions, and incomplete projects. The ministry’s format for publishing these reports also specifies providing details such as actual execution status of refund, possession and compensation orders as well as recovery warrant execution details with values and list of defaulting builders.FPCE said annual report data is not only vital for homebuyers to assess system credibility, but is equally necessary for both state and central govts to frame effective policies, design incentivisation schemes, and develop tax policy frameworks.“Unless we have credible data proving that after Rera the real estate sector has improved in terms of delivery, fairness, and keeping its promises, we are merely firing in the air,” said FPCE president Abhay Upadhyay, who is also a member of the govt’s Central Advisory Council on Rera.As per details shared by the entity, seven states — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa — have never published a single annual report since Rera’s implementation, and nine states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana, which initially published reports, have discontinued the practice.Upadhyay said when regulators themselves don’t follow the law, they lose the legal right to demand compliance from other stakeholders. “Their failure emboldens builders and weakens the very system they are meant to safeguard,” he said.



Source link

Continue Reading

Business

Infosys Rolls Out 85% Average Performance Bonus In Q3FY26, Best In Over 3 Years

Published

on

Infosys Rolls Out 85% Average Performance Bonus In Q3FY26, Best In Over 3 Years


Last Updated:

Over recent quarters, payouts had gradually improved from roughly 65 percent to 80 percent and now to an average of about 85 percent in Q3FY26.

Infosys logo is seen.

Infosys logo is seen.

IT major Infosys rolled out performance bonus payouts averaging around 85 percent for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 (Q3FY26), marking the strongest variable pay outcome for eligible employees in at least the past three-and-a-half years, Moneycontrol reported citing people in the know.

The bonus payout for mid- to junior-level employees ranges between 75 percent and 100 percent, with most employees clustering around the organisation-wide average of 85 percent, the report said. The development signals a steady recovery in variable compensation at the Bengaluru-headquartered IT services firm. Over recent quarters, payouts had gradually improved from roughly 65 percent to 80 percent and now to an average of about 85 percent in Q3FY26.

Employees are expected to receive their bonus letters over the next few days, with the payout scheduled to be credited along with their February salary.

One employee told the outlet that it is the strongest bonus outcome seen in recent years. The payout is also among the rare instances since the Covid-19 period when variable pay has approached the upper end of the eligible range.

Infosys last paid out 100 percent variable compensation during the pandemic. In the quarters that followed, payouts were lower amid macroeconomic uncertainty and a broader slowdown in client spending across global markets.

The higher payout comes at a time when global IT stocks have faced renewed pressure, driven by concerns over rapid advances in artificial intelligence and their potential impact on traditional IT services models.

Shares of global IT firms have seen sharp sell-offs in recent weeks amid heightened investor focus on AI leaders such as Anthropic. Investors fear that generative AI tools could compress pricing, automate routine services work and reduce demand for legacy outsourcing models.

Against that backdrop, the improved bonus payout at Infosys is being viewed as a signal of operational resilience and near-term performance strength, even as sentiment around the broader IT sector remains cautious.

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google.

Follow News18 on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18. Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. To Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated.
News business markets Infosys Rolls Out 85% Average Performance Bonus In Q3FY26, Best In Over 3 Years
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Read More



Source link

Continue Reading

Business

Why you should consider switching bank accounts

Published

on

Why you should consider switching bank accounts



Martin Lewis explains why now might be a good time to think about changing your bank account.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending