Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the scale of developmental interventions which she views will be necessary in the post-Covid-19 environment; and the innovations she is considering in their delivery. [34508/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While many have been displaced from their employment by the pandemic, a significant share of these people have already returned to work, and others will continue to return to their previous employment, as public health restrictions continue to ease. However, it is inevitable that some jobs will be permanently lost, and additional numbers of persons will require State support to find new jobs and in transitioning back to work.

As outlined under the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, which was launched on June 1st 2021, a central focus of the recovery process will be on helping people get back to work, through the provision of employment support, additional training and work placement opportunities.

Central to achieving this objective will be the Government’s forthcoming national employment services strategy, ‘Pathways to Work 2021-2025’, which is currently being finalised by my Department. By increasing labour market supports, and through the provision of employment support, activation and skills opportunities, the Pathways to Work strategy will act as a key delivery mechanism of the Economic Recovery Plan’s second pillar ‘Helping People Back into Work’.

In order to meet the increased demand for activation and labour market support as a result of the pandemic, the capacity of the Public Employment Service will need to be significantly expanded. As outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan, this will be done through the assignment of 150 additional employment Case Officers (Job Coaches), as well as the expansion of regional employment services to cover the entire State.

Additionally, new innovative digital channels of delivery will improve efficiencies in employment service delivery in the post-COVID labour market. This will involve Intreo moving to a blended service delivery model that encompasses both in-person and digital engagements.

The Pathways to Work strategy will outline how the Public Employment Service – Intreo, will utilise both its existing and expanded capacity to deliver effective services post-COVID with an overall target of increasing the caseload capacity by 100,000 per annum.

Another key element of the Pathways to Work strategy is the establishment of a new Work Placement Experience Programme for those out of work for at least six months, regardless of age.

This programme, which has a target of 10,000 participants by end-2022, will provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job”. Moreover, training and mentoring opportunities will also be encompassed as a central component of placement, thereby ensuring greater development opportunities for participants.

My Department is working closely with the Further Education and Training sector to provide access to training, upskilling and reskilling opportunities for the unemployed including those whose employment has been impacted by COVID. As set out under the Economic Recovery Plan, accelerating the rollout of 50,000 education and training places to support upskilling and reskilling will be essential in supporting economic recovery and ensuring any long-term scarring effects of the pandemic on the labour force are minimised for those whose jobs are permanently lost.

Given the impact of the pandemic on young people, my Department is also supporting measures for young persons, to help them to regain their footing in the labour market. These will build on the EU’s new Reinforced Youth Guarantee and include expanding the JobsPlus scheme, which provides a financial incentive for employers to recruit young jobseekers in particular, to 8,000 places.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has initiated the process to amend the Workplace Relations Act 2015 given the publication by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands of its report on the Examination of Bogus Self-Employment report on 16 June 2021 (details supplied). [35332/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I note the publication of the June 2021 'Report - Examination of Bogus Self-Employment' and the recommendations therein of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands.

The Deputy seems to be referring to Recommendation 12 of that report, which states:

"12. The Committee recommends that the period for employers to pay backdated PRSI contributions that they previously avoided is increased from six months to six years. That would mean that the Workplace Relations Act 2015 be amended to allow adjudication officers and the Labour Court consider breaches of employment enactments for up to 6 years rather than the generally 6 months."

The Report's explanatory text to that recommendation reads:

"The Committee is of the opinion that the above recommendations would act as deterrents to employers misclassifying individuals as self-employed. However, the Committee also acknowledges that these changes would not necessarily make it easier for an individual to request an employment status classification from the scope section, especially without personal support. The Committee is of the opinion the opinion [sic.] that that [sic.] workers can best progress their right [sic.] under employment and social welfare legislation by exercising their constitutional right to become a member of a trade union."

The intent and meaning of this particular recommendation is not understood. My officials inform me that PRSI arrears are in fact assessed by my Department without any limitation on retrospection. Furthermore, I'm informed that the Workplace Relations Act does not govern the collection of PRSI.

My officials would of course welcome any clarification from the Committee on what this recommendation means and what the Committee hopes it would achieve. It should be noted, however, that if the Committee indeed has in mind an amendment to the Workplace Relations Act and a recommendation that is relevant to the Labour Court, such recommendation should instead be directed to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who has responsibility for employment rights, industrial relations and the apparatus that supports both.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.