Digital makeover heading towards job centres
- 24 Oct
The government is said to be investing in a digital revamp of the UK's job centres.
Centres around the UK will see electronic pads that recognise job seekers' signatures using biometric software along with PC workstations and free wi-fi, reports the BBC.
The computers will operate on the government's network and share the same level of security against hacking and viruses. The London Bridge Jobcentre has already tested this out,
"We've moved away from customers coming in and standing in a queue waiting to be directed," said Baljeet Mahal, the branch's customer services manager. We don't have podiums; we don't have public-access phones. If you look back to Job Centre Plus from years ago, we had boards with paper cards with vacancies on them - we don't have those anymore."
The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that these computers will save £2m per year.
While their use will not be not monitored formally, Ms Mahal said the screens were visible and staff would "have a chat" if they saw people using them for purposes other than job hunting.
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