Continued reductions to JI and SE not acceptable

7 Oct 2004

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed is angered by the ongoing reduction in the number of participants on the Jobs Initiative (JI) Scheme and Social Economy (SE) Programme. In the last 18 months, the numbers on the JI scheme have fallen consistently from 2525 to 1994, a cut of 21% and in the last six months 139 places have been lost. While up to 200 places on the Social Economy programme have gone in the last 6 months.

It was agreed that the total number on Active Labour Market Programme places for 2004 would be 25,000, however the distribution of these places across the 3 Active Labour Market Programmes (Community Employment, Jobs Initiative and the Social Economy Programme) was not agreed.

‘The JI and SE schemes serve different needs and have different eligibility requirements. For instance the JI scheme is a three year contract and is specifically targeting older long-term unemployed people, as only those who are over 35years and who have been over 5 years unemployed are eligible,’ explained Mr Eric Conroy, General Secretary INOU. ‘The reductions are systematic of the latest Government proposals seeking to subsume JI and SE places into a larger Community Employment scheme, however, all schemes are aimed at different target groups. It is unacceptable to phase out or reduce the number of places on these scheme without realistic alternative supports and compensation being in place for these workers. The future of Active Labour Market Programmes is yet to be finalised and the continuous cutting of places without agreement from the Social Partners is not acceptable.’