CTU MEDIA RELEASE 15 December 2008

Worker support package a start only - CTU

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly says that the ReStart package announced by the Government today has made a start to help workers being made redundant, but there are people who will miss out.

"Many people appear to miss out on this package, including those made redundant who are not drawing down the full accommodation supplement, those who are not being paid the in-work tax credit, or part time workers," Helen Kelly said.

"We also think that the government should keep alive a proposal on guaranteed redundancy payments and notice for workers, in line with the recommendations of a recent Advisory Group, and want the Government to expand assistance for workers to cover the cost of searching for a new job and retraining."

"And it does not make sense to have this assistance coming into effect in January and just two months later hitting workers in small and medium sized enterprises with no right to appeal against unfair dismissal."

"The government's changes last week to employment law are unfair at the best of times, but will just cause additional anxiety for people moving between jobs in the current economic conditions."

"The CTU is looking forward to meeting with the new Minister of Social Development to discuss this package and to look at further forms of support that can be provided for workers made redundant," Helen Kelly said.

ENDS

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