Anti-poverty network attacks ‘social employment’ proposal

THE European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) is among a number of groups which have strongly criticised proposals from Minster for Social Protection Eamon O Cuív to implement a ‘social employment’ scheme which would commit up to 10,000 job seekers to 20 hours community work or face having their unemployment benefits cut.

EAPN Irish Network co-ordinator Aiden Lloyd said the proposals amounted to an attempt to implement an “incomplete and regressive” policy which would bring “into question the very concept of work and the important psychological and material part it plays in people’s lives”.

“People should only be enticed to participate in measures that lead to jobs. If those jobs are not there, which they are currently not, then they need to be created.”