There’s widespread concern today after the announcement of Government plans to have the unemployed put their CV online or face losing benefits. The plan will be rolled out next year.
The Irish National Organization of the Unemployed has advised that such measure must not be used as a threat, specially considering that many job seekers may not be versed in IT matters.
Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Kevin Humphries, has said that its department ‘must ensure that jobseekers are doing everything they can’ to find employment.
The measure announced today is part of the revamp of the old FAS website, now run by Solas, which will enable prospective employers to search the Live Register for potential candidates.
Local Social Welfare officers will ask claimants to upload their CV to continue receiving their benefits. The Government is reportedly preparing legislastion to allow halting payments, if the claimant does not cooperate.
The organization for the unemployed will be contacting the minister shortly to clarify whether failure to upload a CV will mean total stop of the payments, or just a penalty.