Figures show 635 work-for-the-dole recipients stacked up 1354 no-show penalties between July 2011 and December 2011.
ONE in five work-for-the-dole participants had their payments taken away for failing to show up to work last year.
Figures released to the Sunday Herald Sun revealed that 635 people stacked up 1354 no-show penalties between July 2011 and December 2011.
During that period 3254 job seekers participated in the scheme.
It comes as unemployment rates rose sharply during February, with 8000 more Victorians joining the dole queues across the state.
National unemployment rates went up to 5.2 per cent, with Victoria making up almost half of the increase in the unemployed across the country.
In Victoria the unemployment rate for February was 5.4 per cent a rise of 0.2 per cent from January.
Despite official figures showing 20 per cent of people were not showing up for work-for-the-dole, one supervisor-turned-whistleblower has said the real figure is much higher.
The man, who would not be named for fear he would lose his job, also said workers under the scheme were selling off clothing they were issued with at the start of their deployments to make a quick buck.
"These people are making a mockery of the system," he said.
"People go out and work hard every day and pay their taxes for this.
"I could write a book on the excuses I have heard from people not showing up for work.
"Last month I was supposed to have a dozen people on one day and not one showed up."
The supervisor said one man called up and said he couldn't work because he had a broken leg - before turning up for work the next day uninjured.
Other excuses given for people not turning up include a man who said he had to hold a garage sale and another who said he had dislocated his knee before being spotted that same day drinking outside a pub, the supervisor said.
hurleyd@heraldsun.com.au
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