by Alan Jacques
LIMERICK Sinn Féin councillor Maurice Quinlivan believes his party’s newly launched proposals on internships provide a credible, workable and thoroughly necessary alternative to the “despised” JobBridge scheme.
Following the launch of Sinn Féin’s ‘Displacing JobBridge’ strategy for an alternative internship scheme this week, Cllr Quinlivan said that the JobBridge scheme launched by the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government in June 2011, was “an absolute disaster.”
“While some individuals may have had a positive experience, it is a scheme that leaves thousands of jobseekers vulnerable to exploitation. It has already reduced the number of real job opportunities available and if it is not closed down now, thousands of new entry level positions that should come into being in the months and years ahead will emerge as unpaid internships instead,” he said.
According to the City North councillor, Sinn Féin propose to replace the “one-size-fits-all” JobBridge scheme with a new participant centred model for internships. He also said that he envisages a substantial increase in the range of apprenticeships available.
“The model we propose would not displace apprenticeships, paid in-work training or jobs. It would afford those genuinely in need of some work experience with meaningful learning opportunities.”
Sinn Féin believes that quality work experience programmes can provide a useful means of enhancing skills and providing a valuable first step into the world of work. They also claim that the current system displaces paid work, depresses wages and facilitates abuse by some employers.
Cllr Quinlivan explained that as part of his party’s proposed scheme tailored internships would be developed sector by sector in full co-operation with trade unions and Education and Training Boards. Employers, he said, would be supported to be the best mentors that they can be.
“We propose an internship scheme that supports jobseekers to attain real quality jobs without limiting the number of proper job vacancies available. Sinn Féin’s proposals maximise decent pay for decent work,” he said.
