Minister Calleary recognises Employers supporting the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter

• Minister recognises the great success of the Employment and Youth Charter
• Charter supports new pathways to employment among young people and people from disadvantaged groups
• Over 300 employers have already signed up

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, is attending an event today in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin to acknowledge Employers who have become signatories of the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter. Today’s event highlights the positive outcomes of the Charter for young people.

The Charter is a key measure under the Government’s Pathways to Work objectives to engage companies in delivering activities to support people looking to enter or re-enter the workplace.

To date, over 300 companies have signed the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter, with over 470 Charter activities undertaken by these companies.

Commenting at the event, Minister Calleary said:

“Signing the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter is more than a formal commitment. It is a demonstration of leadership, understanding and social inclusion.

It is about opening doors, creating opportunities and demonstrating that success in business and social impact can go hand in hand.

Barriers to employment often stem not from a lack of ability but from a lack of belief and self-confidence. Over three hundred employers have shown through their engagement with the Charter their belief in people and in their potential.”

Also commenting today Sarah Millea from Mount Juliet Estate said:

“It’s great working with Intreo and the Department of Social Protection to strengthen connections and open up new possibilities for people. This collaboration shows what’s possible when we work together to support meaningful progress and opportunity for all.”

The Minister encouraged employers to sign up to the Charter on www.gov.ie/Charter, by email to employer@welfare.ie, or contact their local Intreo Centre to learn more about the Charter.

Notes:

Employers are invited to engage with the Charter and sign up to some or all six, listed commitments. Charter companies commit to undertake two or more activities that will help a jobseeker on their pathway to employment, such as mentoring, hosting a CV workshop or availing of the Department’s supports to hire a young jobseeker.

The Charter is a result of consultation with various stakeholders, including IBEC, the Labour Market Advisory Council (LMAC) Employer Sub-Group, the National Youth Council of Ireland and the INOU.

Recognising that barriers to recruitment are not limited to young people, the Charter will also cater for groups of jobseekers who may find it hard to get an interview, gain work experience or move into work. They are exposed to the same negative impacts from unemployment. These priority groups include:

• people with disabilities,
• older workers who lost their job later in their career,
• people who have spent some time out of the workplace because of caring or childcare responsibilities,
• minority groups such as members of the Traveller or Roma communities.