Government's "uncaring'' social assistance scheme.

He slammed a weekly requirement for unemployed folk to receive 20 job rejections before being eligible.

"It seems people have to be completely demoralised before they can get help,'' said Mr. Wade.

Some jobless people give up on applying for assistance because of the rigorous criteria, he added.

But Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness strongly defended the system.

"We don't want to turn people into welfare addicts,'' he said.

Mr. Wade said last night the Progressive Labour Party would be launching its own investigation into the benefits scheme. And he called on Government to carry out an immediate review as well.

"I have received complaints from people that the system is not working. The whole area needs to be looked at,'' he said.

Mr. Wade said the figure of 20 job refusals seemed far too high.

"People shouldn't be broken before they can get any assistance. They are finding it very, very, frustrating. A lot of the time they just give up and rely on their families to support them.'' He added: "It demonstrates the really uncaring nature of the Government.'' Mr. Wade said the system was also open to abuse -- some companies with no intention of taking on an employee signed forms simply to help the jobless claim benefits.

"The business just gives a person a refusal to help.'' Mr. Wade said there were more than 2,000 unemployed people on the Island.

Social assistance was designed to help cover the cost, among other things, of rent, food, and transportation.

"It is never adequate,'' he said.

Mr. Edness, however, last night completely rejected Mr. Wade's criticisms.

"The criterion he is referring to is reasonable and applies once you are on social assistance.

"We want to ensure people are looking for work. We don't want to encourage them to stay on social assistance and turn into welfare addicts.'' The job refusals criterion applied only to the able-bodied -- not the disabled and elderly.

It was important to ensure people on assistance were making an effort to find work, explained Mr. Edness.

"I believe the figure is 20 per week, which I don't consider too much. It amounts to contacting five potential employers each day.

"Anybody can apply for 20 jobs a week. If they can't it is not automatically held against them. It is not punitive.

Social assistance "The reasons for not applying for the right number of times are looked into.'' Mr. Edness accepted some of the jobless may try to abuse the system with bogus job refusals -- but he did not believe this was common.

"There are some people that do that, but if they continue they will be caught.'' He explained that would-be employers were expected to sign forms, containing the name of their business, and a telephone number.

These firms could be contacted to ensure people on social assistance had approached them for a job.

"Most employers are reasonably honest, and abide by the system,'' said Mr.

Edness.

He pointed out taxpayers' money would be wasted through dishonesty.