I think a far better and less big brothery alternative is to turn welfare, unemployment and food stamps, into workfare. We should set these workers up in a temp agency... and let them go out on job interviews. as they get paid to work we supplement the difference to the welfare standard of living. everyone should be happy. tax payers save citizens get the satisfaction of putting in a honest days work. companies get to test out workers without worrying about lawsuits and other issues.
I haven't look into this thoroughly but I do believe that it is against the law to institute "make work" jobs. So at all levels of gov't you can't just create a job for welfare recipient. This leaves conventional job opportunities which are in short supply, plus people on welfare need day care, transportation, probably an alarm clock and work clothes. Most of them are obese and will be on permanent disability with a bad back in the first week on the yob.