THE IRISH Congress of Trade Unions has joined student organisations in a call for immediate Government action to address the youth jobs crisis. Together with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the IMPACT-supported Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU), Congress has proposed a national jobs strategy for young people.

A joint publication, Locked out? Investing in a Future for Youth, calls for an end to the ‘lock-out’ of young people from the jobs market. It proposes a range of measures to improve access to the workplace and enhance employment skills including:

• A national jobs strategy for young people
• A jobs stimulus
• Major investment in the EU Youth Guarantee
• A legal framework for work placements
• The creation of a new career information service
• The creation of a national skills map.

The three organisations are seeking joint meetings with Government ministers and departments to discuss the proposals.

Speaking on behalf of the Congress Youth Committee, Lorraine Mulligan said: “We cannot afford to lose a generation to precarious work, joblessness or emigration. We need a clear strategy to tackle the problems facing young people, including investment in a Youth Guarantee, offering employment or training opportunities and ensuring decent pay and working conditions for those in the labour force.”

The trade union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) has also outlined job stimulus proposals, which it says should be included in the forthcoming Budget package (see below).