Actions Not Promises Needed to Deliver Jobs
February 1st, 2012 by ismeireland•Jobs initiative of substance required, not more ‘spin’.
•Pro-enterprise policies the key to job creation.
ISME, Wednesday 1st February 2012.
ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, reacting to the Live Register figures, published by the CSO today (Wednesday, 1st February), has demanded that the Government knuckle down to the business of implementing an ‘Action Plan’ for jobs, and cease the never ending round of announcements without substance. The Association outlined that the focus must be on assisting enterprise to create and retain employment by putting the proper platforms in place to allow them to trade successfully.
According to ISME Chief Executive, Mark Fielding, “How many more people must we lose to emigration and unemployment before we see some action from this somnolent Government? The seasonally adjusted live register figures confirm that a massive 439,600 people are claiming assistance. Consequently, the standardised unemployment rate stands at 14.2%”.
“To date all we have had is announcement after announcement of Government promises, rather than actually addressing the causes of severe unemployment. With close to half a million people out of work we cannot afford to be wasting time and need to immediately implement the over promised and long fingered jobs plan. This initiative needs to activate a coherent implementable strategy that will create verifiable jobs and not be just another wish-list, window dressed as a jobs plan”.
“We require clear and targeted pro-enterprise policies to address the business concerns, including cost competitiveness, access to finance, late payments and red tape. Then the labour intensive SME sector will have the confidence to start investing and creating employment”.
“The reality is that, almost a year in power, this Government has promised a lot but delivered little. It is crucial therefore that the upcoming jobs plan delivers for business and provides them with the impetus and security to create badly needed jobs”, concluded Fielding.
For further information contact:
Mark Fielding
Chief Executive
Tel: 01 6622755
087 2519675
