The first contract under newly devolved welfare powers is due to be awarded by the Scottish Government.
Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn confirmed the £14 million Work First Scotland programme, which will provide employment support for 3,300 disabled people, will be voluntary and will not use the threat of sanctions.
It will be run by disability employment charity The Shaw Trust, disability training and rehabilitation organisation Momentum Scotland and Remploy, the UK's largest employer of people with disabilities.
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The awarding of the initial contract, to run from April 2017, is one of the first exercises of devolved powers under the Scotland Act 2016.
A full Scottish programme of employment support is due to start in April 2018.
Mr Hepburn said: "This represents a significant step on the journey towards a distinctly Scottish employability service from 2018.
"Work First Scotland will realise opportunities within devolution to improve the services we offer, while ensuring people receiving these services experience a seamless transition as well as continuous support.
"I want people to be able to have a say in the service they receive and we have consulted extensively to ensure our help is based on people's needs. The fact our service will be voluntary will mean people can access support without the threat of sanctions hanging over them.
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"At the heart of this process is a desire to create a fairer, more prosperous country. This is an exciting and significant step in our plans to ensure employment support in Scotland meets the needs of unemployed people and helps businesses find the skilled, committed and able people they need to thrive."
In a letter to Holyrood's Social Security Committee, Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green confirmed the Scottish Government needs not impose sanctions in relation to devolved benefits.
Mr Green, who appeared before the committee earlier this month, said: "As I confirmed to the committee, DWP will make referrals to devolved employment programmes on a voluntary basis if that is how the Scottish Government wish to proceed.
"For the avoidance of doubt, a voluntary referral means that a benefit sanction would not be applied for failure to attend or participate in the programme.
"DWP does however remain interested to see how the Scottish Government will achieve delivery of an effective system which both secures value for money and provides successful outcomes for those at risk of long-term unemployment, where engagement is on a purely voluntary basis."
Mr Hepburn added: "The UK Government's confirmation that it will not impose sanctions on people taking part in our voluntary programmes will be a great relief to individuals who have had to cope with this unnecessary stress and harm in the past.
"I am delighted that the Scottish Government can give people an assurance that they will not be sanctioned through our employment programmes. We can now show that our programmes are an opportunity and not a threat.
"While we won't have the powers to prevent people from being sanctioned by the UK Government, we can make sure we take a distinctly Scottish approach through our employment programme."
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