The Oireachtas Joint Committee for Social Protection has recommended that local employment services and job clubs should be retained in their current format.

Its report on public employment services has been welcomed by Fórsa, which has been campaigning to retain the services as they are.

Together with Siptu, the union has argued that a Government-imposed tendering process favoured for-profit providers over the current community-focussed, not-for-profit service. Unions say privatisation, job losses and a diminished employment service are likely unless the Government changes course.

Fórsa official Lynn Coffey, who gave evidence to the committee in September, said the report supports the issues the union raised on behalf of workers.

“We took the opportunity to illustrate the excellent value and quality services delivered by LES to the committee, and the report reflects that. It’s especially welcome that the concerns we raised, regarding the department’s proposals for how these services are to be delivered in the future, have also been taken on board,” she said.

The committee’s report also recommends that the legal advice received by the Department of Social Protection, regarding the need to tender for employment services, is published and that the tendering process for the operation of the regional employment service is paused until all concerns are addressed.

The report is to be considered by the Oireachtas.

The report is available HERE.