National Strategy to Create and Protect Jobs Urgently Needed says Employment Working Group
National Strategy to Create and Protect Jobs Urgently Needed says Employment Working Group
There is an urgent need for the Government to identify and support sectors that have the potential for job creation and growth, according to a specialist Employment Working Group, coordinated by the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland (EAPN). A position paper from the Working Group, entitled ‘Tackling the Economic and Social Crisis’ makes a series of recommendations that will stimulate employment and stem the flow of job losses across the country.
According to Philip O’Connor, Chairperson of EAPN Ireland, “an integrated and energetic strategy for creating and sustaining jobs is required immediately. The measures outlined in the Working Group Position Paper can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively and will send a message that the Government is serious about creating and protecting jobs”.
The position paper recommends an aggressive, integrated approach that focuses on five areas; creating jobs, sustaining jobs, providing training and education programmes, reforming the tax system and protecting social welfare, and ensuring employment rights and equality.
In calling for a job creation strategy, the Working Group identifies considerable potential for job growth in areas like social infrastructure and childcare, ‘green’ jobs, and the food industry. The Position Paper also strongly urges the Government to ensure that sustainable businesses are given the credit they require in exchange for the vast public investment in the banking system.
According to Philip O’Connor, it “defies all logic that small and medium businesses are being allowed to fail because they can’t get credit from the banks. Strategies that support struggling businesses should be absolutely central to any Government recovery package, and must also be tied to maintaining and generating employment. The potential of the semi-state sector to act as a growth stimulus must also be taken on board.”
Other recommendations from the group include:
- The Government’s pilot ‘Short time Working Training Programme’ should be urgently rolled out right across the country beyond the existing 277 places.
- The Government needs to implement immediately the recommendations on improving the skills of vulnerable individuals and sectors, as set out in the Government’s National Skills Strategy.
- Training and education programmes should integrate labour market experience, such as the traineeship model, based on international best practice.
- A broader tax base, including taxes on wealth and property, is required to secure a more stable and equitable income stream for the state. Income should not rely on volatile expenditure taxes nor should it undermine the maintenance and creation of jobs.
- Reform the social welfare system so that it includes integrated training and education responses to labour market activation and eliminates poverty traps.
The EAPN Employment Working Group Position Paper will form the basis of an upcoming presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Mark Byrne
Information & Awareness Officer
European Anti Poverty Network Ireland
01 8745737 / 0877587922
Note to Editors:
Philip O’Connor is the Director of the Dublin Employment Pact and Chairperson of the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland. He is available for interview today and can be contacted through EAPN Ireland.
Members of EAPN Ireland Employment Working Group: Age Action Ireland, Congress Centres Network, Dublin Employment Pact, EAPN Ireland, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, National Women’s Council of Ireland, One Family, OPEN and People with Disabilities in Ireland.
The EAPN Ireland Employment Working Group Position Paper is attached.
