153,700 potential workers -Budget 2001 must help them into labour market

12 Sep 2000

Tony Monks, General Secretary of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) responding to today's QNHS labour market figures highlighted that 8.4% of the labour force is made up of potential workers.

" There are 153,700 who want to work but are faced with various barriers to getting a job. Budget 2001 could be a key instrument in helping those currently recognised as unemployed into the labour market. It could also help underemployed part time workers, people who cannot take up work because of the lack of childcare, and those who have been told by Government that they are too old to work and should give up trying.

"In this Budget the Government should be aiming for a meaningful 'full employment' society. To do this they will need to take minimum wage workers out of the tax net, deliver a decent dole increase, and introduce the Parents Childcare Payment, which is the most equitable way to ensure that all parents can choose quality childcare.

"The co incidence of this month's inflation figure of 6.2% with the labour market figures is a stark reminder of the effects of inflation on dole recipients. With this years dole increase completely wiped out by inflation, Government must deliver a dole increase that bridges the huge income gap between those looking for work and those in work."