At least 585 unemployed due to FMD

6 Apr 2001

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed have said that the effects of the foot and mouth crisis on ordinary workers can be seen in today's Live Register figure which show the first seasonally adjusted increase in the live register in nearly two years.

"At least 585 people have been temporarily laid off due to the FMD crisis in March ", said Tony Monks, INOU General Secretary. "These unemployed workers, just like the 105,900 on the Live Register who receive an unemployment payment, will be living on completely inadequate payments."

"The action taken so far to contain FMD has been commendable, now the Government must be equally vigilant that those temporarily laid off will be able to return to their jobs shortly. We are pleased that the Government acted on our demand to make public the numbers who are unemployed due to FMD. A full assessment of the effects of the crisis must include the hardship caused to laid off workers."

Drawing attention to the level of dole payment someone recently unemployed will receive, the INOU pointed out that the FMD crisis, and the cross-sectoral job losses since January have focused many people's minds on the reality of unemployment.

"Because of the Department's three-day waiting period, before someone is classified as unemployed, claimants only receive half a weeks dole in their first week of unemployment. A single person will receive £42.75 in their first week of unemployment, and a family with two children will receive a mere £85.50. However, not all workers qualify for Unemployment Benefit. Workers who do not have enough PRSI stamps for a UB payment could be waiting two weeks or more to have a means assessment for Unemployment Assistance."

"These figures throw into sharp relief the inadequacy of social welfare payments. This week saw an increase of £8 in basic social welfare, half of which simply covers the current inflation rate. Over the life time of this Government, for every £1 increase in the lowest rates of social welfare, someone on the average industrial wage got £4.10, a person on £60,000 got £6.80, while a person earning £100,000 got £9.40, just from tax cuts. This does not include wage increases. "

ENDS

For further information contact:
Tony Monks, General Secretary - 087 249 6066 / 01 856 0088
Noeleen Hartigan, Press Officer - 087 61 67689 / 01 856 0088