RESIDENTS of international protection accommodation centres in Limerick could soon be able to avail of employment clinics and even secure jobs under a new scheme being developed by Tesco Ireland.
The supermarket chain has been developing pilot plans for employment clinics, which include CV and interview training, and now plans to roll out the clinics in Limerick and other cities in 2024.
According to a report in the Irish Times, chief executive of Tesco Ireland and Northern Ireland Natasha Adams wrote in December to Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney outlining plans for the pilot scheme.
Ms Adams wrote that Tesco planned to begin hosting employment clinics for residents of direct provision centres “early in the new year” of 2024.
“Attendees will be provided with CV and interview training, along with the opportunity to interview for vacancies that we have in cities like Galway, Limerick, and Dublin,” she said, adding that, after running pilot clinics, the supermarket will seek to scale and broaden the initiative.
She added that by keeping contact with the Department of Social Protection and advertising positions with the chain, a number of refugees may be hired under the programme.
Ms Adams said that the supermarket chain is in “ongoing discussions” with the Irish Refugee Council to explore how it can partner with the organisation to help refugees secure employment.
Nick Henderson, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, confirmed that it had a “positive and wide ranging discussion” with Tesco in November about how the company could assist in helping people seeking protection to access employment.
“We hope to build on this in 2024,” he said.
