Jobsbridge unfair to graduates who need work experience

It is difficult for anyone in Ireland or the world over to understand the current economic crisis and formulate real solutions to the predicament.

However, introducing a scheme such as the Jobsbridge Programme in the current economic climate, and painting it as an opportunity for graduates, is the biggest insult to their years of hard work and dedication.

Any fool can see that the programme clearly favours employers, not graduates.

First of all, employers offer graduates the opportunity to work for them to gain valuable experience in their field of study.

This is a good idea in theory, but the truth of the scheme is that employers, who would have previously had to hire graduates in return for a basic salary of €21,000 pa can now hire them for absolutely nothing because the State has agreed to pay them.

Not agreed to pay them €21,000, mind you, but agreed to pay them a maximum of €238 per week in return for 40 hours of work.

You don’t need to be a genius to work out how much that is an hour, but just in case it has slipped the politicians’ minds this is equal to just under €6.

The last time I checked the minimum wage in Ireland was €8.65. If the scheme is as successful as politicians suggest, then why not extend it to governmental positions and hire TDs for €6 an hour.

Therefore, at least if we got ridiculous solutions to economic problems from them, we wouldn’t be disappointed because you know what they say about paying peanuts.

It is impossible for anyone who has finished college laden down with five figure debts to accept such internships as well as incurring relocating costs, fuel costs and general costs that come with living and breathing.

The biggest irony of the scheme is the fact that it does not even get people off the Live Register.

It does not reduce the amount of people claiming the dole and therefore it does not benefit taxpayers either. If the scheme remains in place more employers will be allowed to legally exploit graduates and be given a pat on the back for doing so.

I thought that education leads to better opportunities but maybe I was wrong.

Laura Lynam

Ballycumber

Co Offaly