There’s been a major increase in fines for people on the dole turning down job offers.
Figures from the Department of Social Protection show penalties rose from just over 1,500 in 2012, to more than 16,000 last year.
The fines of up to €44 a week apply to anyone ‘failing to engage’ with employment services – that means refusing work, internships or training without good reason.
But former Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton thinks we’re not getting the full picture:
“We actually need more information from the minister about what’s the profile of the people involved – how long have they been unemployed and what kind of age group…There’s a problem with older people because for instance in a lot of the tech companies and the pharmaceutical companies – by and large – the employees are all under 40..”
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 6.2% in December as people continued to return to work, in line with the country’s economic recovery.
