Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The JobPath programme is one of the labour activation measures initiated by the Department of Social Production. The Minister of State may be aware that the programme outsourced labour activation measures to private companies. There was a tendering process during which a number of companies bid. In the end, two companies were selected to run labour activation measure on behalf of the Department.

I understand almost €7 million was spent on branding and publicising Intreo offices. Those who engaged with the offices were assigned case workers who worked with them in trying to secure employment or upskilling. The problem with the private companies operating the labour activation measures set up by the Department is that they are paid by results.

The reality on the ground - this is not hearsay and the evidence will bear this out - is that many of the people who are directed into those private companies - Seetec Limited and Turas Nua Limited - are being advised of things which I think are unethical. For example, I know of one young lady who was advised to leave her qualifications off her CV because they indicated she would be overqualified for many of the jobs in which they were trying to place her. Many individuals are being forced into low-paid jobs because it is done on a commission basis and the private companies are only paid if they are successful in placing somebody in employment. What is happening is that people are being directed into low-paid jobs with no job security. As a result, people are being recycled. They are getting a low-paid job and are being let go. They go back in again to the private companies and are again placed in another low-paid job and it is a continuous circle.

I am sure all Deputies received the e-mail from a young lady who wrote a letter of complaint to the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, in respect of her experience with one of these companies, Seetec Limited. It should be pointed out that Seetec Limited was under investigation in England for abuse of powers in respect of disabled people and how they were being treated in regard to labour activation measures. That this company is running labour activation measures on behalf of the Department raises questions all on its own. Some of the advice this individual got from a person in the private company was that she should leave her education qualifications off her CV, that she should not bother to get a full driving licence because one can drive around on a provisional licence, which is not the case, and not to go on to a community employment scheme because that scheme is being abused by people who do not wish to find real employment. In her e-mail she said she felt put down, disrespected, belittled and bullied by the individual who was dealing with her who had no regard for what she wanted which was to try to secure sustainable employment. The JobPath scheme is a failure and is just a profit-making exercise for private companies. We have privatised a public service.

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