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INOU Launch 27th Edition of 'Working for Work'

25 March 2021 - 11:41 am


Working for Work 2020 - 27th Edition PDF

INOU LAUNCHES THE 27TH EDITION OF WORKING FOR WORK

On Wednesday March 24th the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed launched our flagship publication Working for Work. This is the 27th edition of the publication and ‘normally’ the INOU would welcome the Minister for Social Protection, INOU affiliates and individual members to Araby House for the formal presentation and networking opportunities such an event affords people.

Given the impact of COVID-19 INOU meetings and events are taking place on-line. INOU Chairperson Ann Fergus welcomed Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphries, TD to this on-line event, thanking her for launching Working for Work and her Department’s support for its production.

Ann also noted the welcome support the Department has provided for people who lost their job because of the health pandemic, the improved rate of payment available to people under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the easier access to this payment through mywelfare.ie. However, Ann also raised concerns about people who may not be able to access supports and services online because they do not have the wherewithal, be it the hardwire, the broadband or the money to maintain such access.

As Ireland emerges out of this crisis it will be really important to support people to access a decent job, and while they search for such employment to ensure that people have access to a good income supports. To that end, Ann noted, it will be really important that social welfare supports are set at a level that ensure people can live their lives with dignity, and that these improved social welfare supports are made available to everyone who requires them.  

Robbert Lynch, Manager of the INOU’s Welfare to Work Section welcomed everyone to the event and noted that Working for Work has proved to be an indispensable information book for unemployed people, front-line staff both in the state and community sector, and employers. It is the only comprehensive publication that brings together the wide range of supports available for unemployed people trying to return to work, education or training.

The book has been updated to provide information on the range of supports provided to jobseekers, employees placed on short-time or lay-off and employers in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It also includes information on measures taken regarding the security of tenancies during the pandemic.

The book outlines an individual's entitlements to a number of social welfare payments and secondary benefits – including:

  • Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)
  • Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)
  • Back to Work Supports
  • Intreo Services
  • EmployAbility
  • Local Employment Service
  • JobPath – Employment Services
  • Employer Incentives to Recruit Unemployed people
  • Self-Employment Supports
  • Housing Assistance Payment
  • Rights at Work
  • Social Welfare Appeals.

Robbert noted that the current edition is available online and that the hard copies will be distributed as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lift and recipients offices re-open. Robbert also thanked SOLAS for their funding for the production of the Working for Work publication

 

** To view a PDF Version of the Publication, CLICK HERE