EU Commission recommendation contrasts with Enterprise Strategy Group

27 Jul 2004

Two key reports designed to shape future employment and economic policy are contradictory when supports and access to the labour market for unemployed people are discussed. The Joint Employment Report compiled by the EU Commission recommends that Ireland’s 2004 National Employment Action Plan, currently being drafted, should concentrate on ‘attracting more people into the labour market by increasing access to active labour market measures for a larger share of the unemployed and inactive population.’ However, in contrast the recently published report of the Enterprise Strategy Group emphasises upskilling all employees especially those in low level occupations. It envisages FAS having a large role to play in this and subsequently advocates that ‘the delivery of Community Employment and training initiatives not be seen as a priority for FAS’.

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed is very concerned about this obvious diversity of views and feels that the Enterprise Strategy Group has overlooked those currently outside the labour market in favour of those already in it.

‘With the key objective of both strategies being to increase labour supply and develop job creation then unemployed people should not be overlooked as a source of labour’, said Mr Eric Conroy, General Secretary INOU. ‘FAS’s active labour market programmes have consistently assisted unemployed people re-enter the labour market and should continue to be supported to the benefit of all’.