May 31 - Government To Ensure Approved Contractors Offer Jobs To Unemployed
The Government has said that it has reminded employers on its Approved Contractors’ Scheme that they are under an obligation to offer jobs to those who are registered as unemployed.
The Minister for Employment, Neil Costa, said this morning that this would help to further lower the unemployment rate something which he says is a “political priority” for the current administration despite record low levels having been reached last year.
“The Government continues in its determined, daily endeavour to ensure that all Gibraltarians who actively seek employment find employment,” read a statement issued this afternoon.
One of the central objectives of the Government’s Approved Contractors’ Scheme (the “Scheme”) administered by the Ministry for Economic Development, is to support the Department of Employment in its task of finding employment for those who are registered unemployed. Approved contractors, as a condition of their contract to provide services to the Government, must recruit a certain number of suitable persons from the registered unemployed during the term of the contract.
However, following several reports that this was not being adhered to by some contractors, all contractors have now received a letter informing them that they are required to employ a certain number of workers specifically identified to them by the Employment Service from the list of registered unemployed persons. This number will be unique to each contractor.
In addition, to continue participating in the Scheme, contractors are required to have all employees registered with the Department of Employment prior to commencing work and throughout the term of any contract.
Random Inspections
Government Departments have also been asked to designate an officer responsible to monitor compliance by their Approved Contractors. The Department of Employment will now begin to actively monitor compliance of the conditions of the Scheme and will, as from this week, carry out random inspections of all Government work sites.
The Government also says that it is important to highlight that, as a last resort, contractors that do not comply with the Scheme’s conditions will be removed from the Approved Contractors’ list and not allowed to participate until it is satisfied that the contractor will be in a position to comply fully with the conditions of the Scheme.
Mr Costa also reminds the public that the fully resourced Labour Inspectorate is available to assist both employers and employees and is a valuable source of information.
Over 700 Inspections
During the Financial Year ending March 2016, the Labour Inspectorate, in its endeavour to curb illegal labour and ensure that meaningful employment opportunities are lawfully filled, have carried out a total of 767 Inspections, have attended to 87 complaints from the public relating to the none compliance of Employers with Terms and Conditions and have issued 31 Fixed Penalty Notices.
Costa: “This Government does not consider any persons as ‘unemployable’.”
Mr Costa said: “Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is unwaveringly committed to decreasing the level of unemployment and the Labour Inspectorate will actively monitor that companies on the Approved Contractor’s Scheme are complying fully with the conditions of the Scheme, which includes the requirement to employ individuals who are registered unemployed. In parallel, we are also working to ensure that the registered unemployed attend the employment interviews that we arrange and that they take up offers of employment made to them. The Employment Service may supervise these cases to ensure that there is a synergy of interests between the Government, the employer and the employee. In this regard, my Ministry, the Department of Employment and I will continue daily in our efforts to identify suitable vacancies for those individuals registered as unemployed.
“It is fair to note that with the expansion of the economy under this Government, the level of unemployment has fallen, reaching the lowest recorded average figure ever of 204 in the second quarter of 2015. Further, it is critical to highlight that unlike the GSD when in office, this Government does not consider any persons as “unemployable”. A more offensive term is hard to imagine, even in the most challenging cases. It is significant to remember that in just one year of GSLP/Liberal Government, there were more Gibraltarians in full time employment than there were in 16 years under the GSD. We will, therefore, continue, unceasingly, the extremely important labour of finding employment for all of our citizens. For the individual securing employment, there may be nothing more important; for us, there is nothing more rewarding. I wish to publicly thank the sterling and tireless work carried out by the Employment Service and my Ministry.”
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