Need for 'Exit Strategy from Unemployment'

21 Jan 2010

Ireland desperately needs an "exit strategy from unemployment if we are to halt growing social exclusion and deeper poverty," Congress said today (Jan 21).

Speaking in response to the launch of European Year for Combating Poverty & Social Exclusion, in Madrid, Congress Legislation & Social Affairs Officer, Esther Lynch called for convincing Government action on jobs.

"Europe and Ireland desperately need an exit strategy from unemployment in order to combat social exclusion and poverty. In Ireland we need to see convincing Government action on jobs in the form of a coherent jobs strategy.

"We are probably the only EU state that has not intervened directly to either save or create jobs and we now have one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU," Ms Lynch said.

"Last year (2009) the number of unemployed increased by 133,577, compared to 2008, which saw an increase of 119,642. The human stories behind the numbers must not be airbrushed or ignored: people are in fear of not being able to pay their bills, they worry about losing their homes, about being unable to provide for their families and despair for their children's future.

"Long-term unemployment is especially corrosive and the long-term unemployed are at a particular disadvantage when trying to find work. We need decisive action to stem the job losses and create employment."

Ms Lynch pointed out that Congress had repeatedly advanced proposals for a coherent, official jobs' strategy, which Government had failed to take on board.

For more details on Congress Job Proposals, visit:

http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/congress-10-point-plan-for-national-recovery/

 

 

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