The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events.
While consideration of an EGF application in respect of Cartamundi Ireland is ongoing, the full range of state supports have been made available to the workers who lost their jobs at the company.
Agencies such as Waterford Wexford ETB (WWETB) and INTREO had comprehensive programmes of supports available for employees including one-to-one supports and advice on employability, social welfare entitlements etc. For example, in July, the WWETB Skills for Work Coordinator facilitated over 160 employees in accessing an unaccredited Career Preparation component with the option of accessing further progression courses from July and September. 1:1 mentoring was also provided as well as the option for group mentoring sessions. A computer course was set up for the most digitally vulnerable, and this commenced in early August. Over 20 referrals were made to the local Adult Literacy Service for further computer courses.
A career and training fair event for over 200 staff from Cartamundi was held at South East Technological University (SETU)’s Cork Road Campus in July. It was jointly organised by SETU, WWETB, INTREO and Waterford Chamber Skillnet, working together with Cartamundi. For those looking to upskill or re-engage in education, the event promoted and raised awareness of the diverse range of further and higher education programmes and supports available in Waterford which were designed to meet the needs of individuals at different stages of their learning pathway in conjunction with an array of options from other providers. Waterford Chamber Skillnet and the South East Regional Skills Forum assisted in organising the event by inviting businesses in the region to attend who had positions available at the time or in the near future. Waterford Chamber Skillnet also had a stand at the event to give attendees advice on future employment, upskilling and training opportunities and during the event they met with attendees and introduced them to potential employers and gave the attendees advice around the upskilling opportunities available in the region and who to contact for support.
In addition, the IDA Ireland Southeast Regional office had multiple engagements with local stakeholders including WWETB, the Department of Social Protection and SETU on behalf of the company and enabled ongoing meetings and activities between these stakeholders and Cartamundi in support of the workforce in accordance with the ‘Job Loss Response Protocol’ which has been agreed between the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and my Department.
