date: 9 January 2009

embargo: 00:01 hours Monday 12 January 2009

Jobs summit must step up support for unemployed say TUC

Today's jobs summit called by the Prime Minister must not just look at every way of reducing job losses but discuss what government can do to help the growing ranks of the unemployed who will find it increasingly difficult to find new jobs as the dole queue grows through 2009 and beyond, the TUC says in advance of the summit.

Action is required on four fronts says the TUC:

• Government must set up job creation programmes and other help for those facing long-term unemployment.
• There must be improved and comprehensive support for those facing redundancy, tailored to individual circumstances.
• People losing their jobs must receive fair redundancy settlements that can, in particular, provide them with the best possible chance of re-training.
• Access to training and support for job search must be improved.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The Government must strain every economic muscle to make sure the recession is as short and shallow as possible. But unemployment will still grow throughout 2009, and we need this jobs summit to map out a comprehensive package to help those facing redundancy, and in particular those in danger of becoming long term unemployed.

'Of course all schemes and subsidies have to be carefully designed to ensure that they are well targeted and provide genuine help for the unemployed. But more and more people will find themselves on the dole for more than six months during 2009 - and all the research shows that the long term jobless find it even harder to get new work without extra support and help.'

The TUC is calling for a package to help the long term unemployed that includes new subsidies for employers who take on the long term unemployed, though these will need to be carefully designed and supervised to ensure they are well targeted.

There should also be new direct government job programmes launched in 2009 that provide temporary waged employment in a genuine work environment combined with continuous support to help people get permanent jobs.

There needs to be urgent changes to the benefit rules that can currently force those who are temporarily laid off to give up their jobs after 13 weeks to search for increasing rare new jobs.

All workers facing redundancy should be eligible to access training under the Train to Gain programme. Redundancy payments should be improved (a Government manifesto commitment) and the amount that can be taken tax-free should be increased to give the newly redundant funds that can help them access training or find work.

The rules restricting the amount of training that those on benefits can access should be revised, and any apprentice who is made redundant should be given special help so that they can finish their training.

People who are newly unemployed should be given access to well-resourced Job Clubs, where they can work in an office environment with access to computers and the internet.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (600 words) issued 12 Jan 2009