Oct 02 - GSD Says Unemployment Is About Sustainable Jobs Not Numbers
The GSD has said that the recent press release by the Government on unemployment figures “is as self serving as it is misleading”. The Opposition says the announcement by Number Six also “betrays the usual obsession by this Government with bare statistics” without considering whether young people are being properly trained and are finding worthwhile jobs at the end of their training.
The GSD says that the Government has spent the last four years “encouraging the incorporation of a huge number of small companies, many owned by supporters, subsidised by labour from the Future Job Strategy and with contracts awarded by direct allocation.” The Opposition argues that this “is not sustainable in the long run” and creates a "false economy” and impression of how many people are in stable and sustainable employment. The GSD says that there have been complaints from many of these companies that they do not have enough work to sustain their viability. It will also be recalled, says the party, that many of these companies were also “secretly incorporated” with registered addresses at No 6 Convent Place and the Ministry of Employment until their existence was exposed by the Opposition. The GSD says there has also been a refusal to be completely transparent with answers to questions in parliament.
Elliott Phillips, GSD election candidate, said: "The reality is that this policy is condemning a whole generation of young people to no or no adequate training just to artificially reduce the unemployment figures. In 2011, the GSLP-Liberals, promised young people guaranteed jobs in Government owned companies after structured training schemes of up to three years. They spent the election getting young people to sign on to scheme at GSLP Headquarters. The reality of their performance in Government has been completely different and not a record to be proud of. The GSD will be publishing its own policies for sustainable jobs and training in the next few weeks; proper structured training for sustainable employment".
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