'According to the new plans, 18 to 24-year-olds who have spent less than six months in employment since leaving education are required to do unpaid work experience at least 30 hours a week for three months or have their £56-a-week jobseeker's allowance cut.

This comes as the number of unemployed young people has increased this year with nearly 968,000 16 to 24-year-olds not being in employment, education, or training, up from 949,000 in the first three months of the year.

Critics have raised concerns that the plans amount to “slave labour”. However, the British government has claimed that the proposals are aimed at preventing young people leaving education from becoming used to a “benefits lifestyle”. “We don't want them waking up at lunchtime and playing computer games all day”, said a Department of Work and Pensions source.'

Read more: Jobless Young in UK Should Work Unpaid to Earn Benefits