C HAPTER 18. W ORK OBJECTIVE The objective of this chapter is to emphasize the requirement for prisoners to be involved in a range of work activities which are useful and which will equip them with skills which they can use after their release. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES All sentenced prisoners who are medically fit shall be required to work. As far as possible, this work should give them skills so that they can earn an honest living after their release. National legislation regarding health and safety at work shall apply in prisons in the same way as it does in the community. Vocational training shall be provided, especially for young prisoners. Prisoners should be remunerated for the work they do. Prisoners should be allowed to spend at least part of their earnings, to send a part to their families and to save a part. These principles should be presented visually and remain on display throughout the session. BASIS IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Exercise: Using the Compilation of Instruments, the trainees should work in pairs in order to discover the basis for each of these principles. There are a considerable number of references to be discovered, so the exercise is likely to take a while. When the trainees are asked to report back to the group, it is the trainer’s task to ensure that all the references listed are included. IMPLICATIONS The important point is that work serves the same purposes in prisons as it does in the community; its absence has the same effects. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS The points made in the Manual are intended to cover the different circumstances across jurisdictions. It is important, after introducing each point, to encourage both questions and comments drawn from trainees’ own experience. 99