A JOBSEEKER claims he is being discriminated against because he has voiced his objections to “draconian” demands.

Peter Styles says that a requirement to sign on every day in segregation with a member of staff behind Perspex glass at a Jobcentre is hindering his search for a job.

The 43-year-old has appealed against the decision to make him sign on daily, registered a complaint and published a blog which had thousands of hits within a day.

A Government spokeswoman defended the process and said jobseekers should approach job hunting as they would a nine to five job.

Mr Styles has been seeking work for a year since Hove-based Axis Property Investment ceased trading. He receives about £70 a week in jobseekers’ allowance.

He said that despite applying for up to 67 jobs in a fortnight, Jobcentre staff at Edward Street in Brighton ordered him to take on daily signings to hurry his search for work.

The requirement means that Mr Styles has to take 40 minutes out of his day walking to and from his home in Preston Park Avenue and the Jobcentre – time he says would be better spent applying for jobs. The university graduate said he is being punished for not applying for two jobs at Asda when he has been looking for work as a copywriter in PR and communications.

As well as appealing the decision, Mr Styles is considering further legal action over his human rights.

He said the stress of challenging the process had taken its toll and he has been signed off sick by his doctor.

He said: “On November 7, I was sanctioned by Brighton Jobcentre despite 67 separate jobseeking actions in the last fortnight.

“I believe I have been singled out for discrimination for daring to object to government policy.

“I have told staff that I consider the policy draconian.

“I now have to go to a segregated area with Perspex screens between me and the staff and I am just made to feel like I have done something wrong.

“They are using Kafka-like bureaucracy to try and crush me.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “Our Jobcentre staff work very hard every day supporting jobseekers.

“In return, we expect jobseekers to do everything they can to find work. This may include daily signings to ensure people treat looking for a job as a job in itself.

“We take all complaints seriously and, equally, we expect our staff to be treated with respect.”