Joining in the March

20 Feb 2009

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed welcomes the Irish Congress of Trade Union's call to 'Protect Jobs & Tackle Unemployment' joined their march on Saturday February 21st as an act of solidarity.

The maintenance of jobs is extremely important and all avenues must be explored to this end. A challenge the INOU continues to highlight is the growing mis-match between potential employment opportunities and skills amongst the unemployed, low skilled workers and workers whose industries are undergoing fundamental change. The National Skills Strategy's Implementation Plan should be urgently published to ensure that we are addressing this gap.

At a time of diminishing resources their most productive use is crucial. People are Ireland's greatest resource and increased supports are urgently required to ensure that unemployed people and others can up-skill themselves and access future employment opportunities.

Another issue of major concern for the INOU arises from recent commentary on the adequacy of social welfare rates. According to the Survey of Income and Living Conditions in Ireland for 2007, both the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the consistent poverty rate were considerably higher for unemployed people. For example, the at-risk-of-poverty rate was 38.7% for unemployed people in comparison to 16.5% overall; while the consistent poverty rate was 17.5% for unemployed people in comparison to 5.1% overall.

Given the challenges facing Ireland and the Government's desire to create a knowledge-based or smart economy in response, it is vitally important that social welfare rates are maintained. Otherwise it will be extremely hard for people to engage in re-education and training if the main focus of their lives is managing their poverty and that of their families.

 

For further information contact:
Bríd O'Brien, INOU Head of Policy and Media: (01) 856 0088 or 086 608 9641
John Stewart, INOU Co-ordinator: (01) 856 0088 or 086 160 2222