David Cameron has come out and said that Young people out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits if the Conservatives win the election.
David Cameron said about 50,000 18 to 21-year-olds would be required to do daily work experience from day one of their claim, alongside job searching.
The welfare shake-up would make sure young people "don't get sucked into a life on welfare", he said in a speech.
Labour said the Tories would do nothing to get young people "real jobs".
The opposition has pledged a compulsory jobs guarantee for the young unemployed, paid for by a tax on bankers' bonuses.
The Conservatives are focusing on welfare reforms as they draw up battle lines before May's general election.
Their proposed community work programme will cost about £20m to deliver, paid for by "initial savings" from the delivery ofuniversal credit.
'Order and discipline'
Those aged between 18 and 21 who have not been in employment, education or training, known as "Neets", for six months would no longer receive jobseeker's allowance (JSA).
Instead, they would be paid the youth allowance, paid at the same rate as JSA - £57.35 a week.
However, to receive it they would be required to carry out 30 hours a week of mandatory community work from the first day of claiming benefits.
This could involve making meals for older people or working for local charities, alongside 10 hours of job hunting.