Paul Murphy MEP spoke to reporters outside City Hall this evening at a protest against the new ‘Gateway’ programme.
Questioned about the new job scheme Murphy described it as the first step to forced labour:
Those on the Gateway programme will get €20 per week for 19.5 hours work on top of their dole, so it’s €1 per hour. If they refuse to go on the scheme they can have their dole reduced or cut entirely. It’s incredible.
Why were they protesting outside City Hall (where Dublin County Council convenes)?
3,000 council workers have left over the past year, people who have reached retirement age. They haven’t been replaced and so these people [on Gateway] are going to be working for free, doing work that was previously done by paid employees so it’s undermining wages and conditions for everybody .
Dublin City Council are taking on 298 ‘Gateway’ workers, according to Murphy, in the next few months.
To see more on employment schemes see here.
*3,000 council workers have retired nationwide
Comments
The fact the unemployed aren’t out on the streets protesting. Maybe its a case ok fuck you work for the Euro then
As an aside here there was a photographer we don’t recognise standing across the road pointedly waiting until protestors faces were visible before snapping them with a long lens. Not sure if this was meant to be intimidatory but it certainly felt that way.
Arent they getting 206.50 for the 19.5 hours work?
Such an insult…..
Tus, Mark 2
sounds good to me
if youre under 25 it would be 120euro for 20 hours forced labour
Disgrace exploiting peoples good nature
Forced labour is a bit much… I think its a healthy initiative. There will be pro’s and con’s…. To just shit on it out right or to dress it as cheap villainy is a bit short sighted to be honest
Carers been exploited for years and despite complaints no change! whole country needs to protest under one umbrella not just bits and scraps!!
Cos I am married and my husband is earning a half decent wage and cannot even get any social welfare after 9 months despite the fact I have being paying tax for the last 20 years .
I don’t get any free money, so if they are getting money from the state why shouldn’t they work for it.