INOU to put unemployment on the agenda for

6 Feb 2006

As talks for a new national agreement get under way today, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed who will be participating in the talks will ensure unemployment and joblessness are clearly on the table. “The Partnership talks has to take into account that there are currently over 160,000 people signing on the Live Register and that the high redundancy figures for 2006 have continued where 2005 left off” said Mr. Eric Conroy, INOU General Secretary. The 2,346 redundancies in January is up 42% on the corresponding month last year and is the highest monthly total since last May. If this level is sustained in 2006, there will be a further 25,000 redundancies this year.

The INOU will be seeking to ensure that any new National Agreement will provide supports and resources for unemployed people, especially people who are long-term unemployed. “We are nowhere near full employment when we have the misery of 28,000 people in long term unemployment”, said Mr. Conroy. Youth unemployment is nearly 10%, which is over twice the national average. The unemployment rate for early school leavers is 18%. Unemployment is uneven around the country with areas such as County Donegal with very high unemployment. “As an organisation participating at the talks we will be looking for clear initiatives to address serious segmental unemployment problems”, said Mr. Conroy. “It looks like the government will not meet its target to eliminate long term unemployment by 2007 – this is not acceptable if we are considered to have a successful economy”, he added.

ENDS
For further information contact
Eric Conroy, INOU General Secretary: 01 856 0088 / 086 3374874