Companies encouraged to fund scheme to replace JobBridge

A potential showdown between Government and business groups is looming after the Coalition said companies participating in a new scheme replacing JobBridge must make larger, yet-to- be-agreed contributions to interns’ pay.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed the situation yesterday, saying that “there should be an employer contribution to gain access to the programme” and that future interns must be guaranteed at least the net minimum wage from state and private sector funds.

Under long-flagged measures formally announced in a new report into the JobBridge scheme, the Government is scrapping the deeply divisive internship system from this Friday and replacing it will a new group from next summer.