Firms urged to take on interns paid by state

EMPLOYERS face a ‘call to action’ this week as the Government launches a bid to get 5,000 unemployed workers in internship places as part of its jobs initiative.

Social networking site Facebook and technology giant Hewlett Packard are among a number of companies who have already signed up to take trainees under their wing.

The state-paid scheme will be launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton on Wednesday.

Employers and potential workers will be encouraged to find each other online in a type of ‘dating database’, which will link job placements to those with the right experience.

Jobseekers seeking training with companies will get €50 in addition to their social welfare, bringing the standard single dole payment up to €238 a week.

Employers are expected to take on internees for between six and nine months and can take in between one and 200, depending on the firm’s own employee numbers.

Trainees will still retain secondary state benefits while on internships, such as medical cards, rent supplement or fuel allowance.

The scheme is expected to cost the state €3m this year and €13m next year.

But it is hoped that if placements are successful, employers will offer trainees positions and paid work.

Ms Burton’s department is also expected to monitor firms taking on internees, in order to stamp out any potential abuse where companies may take advantage of low-paid trainees.

Mr Kenny will launch a website for the scheme at Facebook’s Dublin offices this week. The social networking website group has already agreed to take on some trainees.

Information technology giant Hewlett Packard and leading manufacturer Glen Dimplex have advised the Government about the scheme and are expected to also take on trainees.

It is particularly hoped that the internship scheme will give young graduates and school leavers opportunities to get experience as they move between study and their careers.

Unemployed individuals interested in applying for placements must have been on jobseeker’s allowance or benefit or signing on for at least three months.

This week’s event will see the scheme’s website launched as well as a ‘call to action’ sent out to companies to sign up to the initiative, which is being supported by trade unions as well as employers group IBEC.