The news headline today is that ISME, via Mark Fielding says that 70000 jobs are in danger.
Here is the full story from the RTE web site. I’ll pay a pint to the one who can explain why are 70000 people in danger of losing their jobs, and where does it say so in the piece of news broadcasted on all Irish media?
Call for employment action plan
Tuesday, 2 June 2009The group representing small and medium sized businesses in Ireland has called on the Government to introduce an emergency employment action plan.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association says some 70,000 jobs in the sector are in immediate danger.
In a survey published today, ISME confirms that almost all such businesses have introduced either a pay cut or a wage freeze since the start of the year.
ISME is calling for an emergency plan including PRSI exemptions for employers taking on new staff and job maintenance subsidies to deal with the number of firms planning lay-offs, which according to the organisation’s survey, has risen to 35% from 25% two months ago.
Almost all small and medium business have introduced pay cuts or wage freezes since the beginning of the year, ISME says.
ISME Chief Executive Mark Fielding said that immediate action was called for and that drawn-out negotiations with trades unions needed to be cut short.
He said that it was better to have workers remaining in employment than to add to the Exchequer costs by becoming what he called a burden on the State.