Government needs to do everything it can to save Longford jobs

27 Jan 2006

The hugely damaging fire at the Edgeworthstown C D factory which has put over 350 jobs at risk is yet another reminder of the significant scale of redundancies which are taking place around the country. This year has started as last year finished with very high levels of job losses. Such significant job losses have a particularly traumatic effect on the people and local communities in towns and surrounding rural hinterland.

“The potential loss of 350 jobs in Edgeworthstown, in addition to the 180 in Cork (GN ReSound Ireland Ltd) and the 70 in Tralee (Glen Dimplex) is a devastating start to the new year for the individuals who are about to lose their jobs, their families and local communities” said Mr. Eric Conroy, General Secretary of the INOU. “We are calling on the Government to do everything it can to save the jobs in Longford”, he added.

The INOU is also calling for the re-introduction of a Pay Related Unemployment Payment, which would go some way to cushioning the blow of redundancy for people who lose their jobs.

“We still receive calls from people who have lost their jobs but mistakenly believe that social welfare unemployment payments are pay related. We know that many people who were working in the C D factory were dismayed at the current level of Unemployment Benefit” said Mr. Conroy. “The personal rate of Unemployment Benefit is €165.80 per week and this can come as quite a shock to people such as those in Edgeworthstown who for many years have worked and contributed to the PRSI system. With such high levels of redundancy it is vital that the Government re-introduce Pay Related Social Insurance so that the payment is linked to wages” he added.