North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín met this week with representatives of the trade union NIPSA about possible job losses in social security offices as a result of a government review.
NIPSA fears that up to 200 jobs could go in social security offices under a new scheme to redeploy staff and that many workers will face very real practical difficulties traveling to work.
Carál Ní Chuilín called on the Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie to call a halt to the plans to relocate workers and cut jobs.
“We are very concerned at the scale of job losses which would come about as a result of this review,” said Carál Ní Chuilín.
“We believe that up to 200 workers could lose their jobs as a result of the proposed redeployment.
"The objective of the review was to improve accessibility for applicants, which is now even more important given the rise in the numbers of people out of work and the growing economic crisis.
“However, one of the proposals to emerge from this review is to replace the face to face service applicants currently benefit from with a phone service.
“I am concerned that this will seriously affect the quality of service for new applicants in particular at a time when people need all the help they can get.
“What works for England won't necessarily work here.”
Carál Ní Chuilín said that the minister should now bring the review to a close.
"The primary concern in all of this should be the claimant,” she said. “As we head into further economic uncertainty and hardship, the Minister for Social Development should not allow this review to continue.
“The 35 Social Security Offices across the North are a vital service which will no doubt act as a further help as we face into darker economic days.
“Should this review continue then it will remain open until the 31st of January and I would call on as many community groups as well as individuals to have their say and oppose plans to redeploy staff and services throughout the Six Counties."
No comments:
Post a Comment