Jobbridge - Taking advantage of the unemployed

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 1:54pm #1

I am starting a thread to highlight something I feel strongly about. I think it is well known for some months that the Jobbridge scheme is being taken advantage of by some employers. But nothing seems to be getting done about it. I have started this petition with an aim to getting the point across to the people in charge of the scheme that with some tweaks it could be a good for actual internships but as it stands I believe it is harming the jobs market even further. So please lend your support it only takes a few seconds to put your name down and hopefully we can make some positive change to the scheme.
Thanks.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/jobbridge-taking-advantage-of-the-unemployed/

leeroybrown · 30-05-2012 2:00pm

It's a waste of a few seconds. Online petitions achieve nothing other than making people feel they've contributed when they could in reality be doing something by spending a tiny bit more time sending a proper letter to the relevant public representatives.

aN.Droid · 30-05-2012 2:02pm

leeroybrown wrote: »

It's a waste of a few seconds. Online petitions achieve nothing other than making people feel they've contributed when they could in reality be doing something by spending a tiny bit more time sending a proper letter to the relevant public representatives.

Waste of even more time

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 2:04pm

leeroybrown wrote: »

It's a waste of a few seconds. Online petitions achieve nothing other than making people feel they've contributed when they could in reality be doing something by spending a tiny bit more time sending a proper letter to the relevant public representatives.

Thanks for your reply.
I will be going to the relevant public representatives with the petition in hand which I can use as proof of the widespread disapproval to the scheme as it stands. I think that would carry more weight than just my personal opinion.

frag420 · 30-05-2012 2:04pm

Done.

I 100% agree with you. In the comment box I suggested that all employers taking on an intern must make a contribution of €150 per week to the intern on top of the interns social welfare. This will in turn weed out the scammers and also give the intern a sense of worth for the work they are doing.

frAg

starlit · 30-05-2012 4:12pm

They are and they aren't depends on the company/business/job in mind. If its genuine then its ok, but if not researched enough or it bogus or a job anyone could do then not worth doing a jobbridge in it. If its to upskill or improve employment prospects in your field or for a graduate a foot in the door to gain experience then yes a jobbridge is handy to have. Then again some jobbridges are taking advantage of the unemployed for free labour for jobs that could be real jobs.

Then again jobbridge internships have become a little competitive these days depending on what field you are following. Though the question is, is the internship relevant for employment prospects in your field?!

pog it · 30-05-2012 4:14pm

It's up to the individual whether they go for it or not, nobody making them do it!

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 4:21pm

pog it wrote: »

It's up to the individual whether they go for it or not, nobody making them do it!

I agree freedom of choice. Actual internships are a good thing. But when they are not actual internships they have a negative impact on everyone else. It will be a race to the bottom with wages. why would i pay you 500 a week if i could get someone for next to nothing. so it affects us all.

kippy · 30-05-2012 4:25pm

There's definitely a level of abuse taking place on the behalf of employers however there are structures in place to:
A. Check these out in the first place and not publish them if abuse is suspected.
B. Whistleblow if there are issues being had by the people in the scheme.

When this type of scheme came out first I was appalled that the government found it a decent response to the jobs crisis. I still think the response could have been a lot better.

The news about some people finding work on these schemes is kind of a mishomer as one would have to ask, without this scheme, would these people have gotten these jobs anyway?
Obviously companies have jobs to give.

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 4:33pm

kippy wrote: »

There's definitely a level of abuse taking place on the behalf of employers however there are structures in place to:
A. Check these out in the first place and not publish them if abuse is suspected.
B. Whistleblow if there are issues being had by the people in the scheme.

When this type of scheme came out first I was appalled that the government found it a decent response to the jobs crisis. I still think the response could have been a lot better.

The news about some people finding work on these schemes is kind of a mishomer as one would have to ask, without this scheme, would these people have gotten these jobs anyway?
Obviously companies have jobs to give.

On those two points...No one seems to be doing them. Especially point A. A bit of common sense from the people in charge of this would certainly improve matters.

kippy · 30-05-2012 7:24pm

mac_iomhair wrote: »

On those two points...No one seems to be doing them. Especially point A. A bit of common sense from the people in charge of this would certainly improve matters.

Point A is definitely being done, however stuff seems to be getting through the cracks which does happen in any walk of life.
You never really know how well these things are getting screened as you have not got the statistics on how many advertisements don't get published because they are not within the scope of this scheme.
As for point B, whistleblowing is taking place, and I believe some organisations have had their job bridge "privileges" removed as a result.
I suppose the safeguards are there (in my opinion) however I would still suggest that a lot of these employers would be "forced" to hire someone straight away rather than going via job bridge, job bridge just gives them an opportunity for some cheap labour.

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 7:27pm

kippy wrote: »

Point A is definitely being done, however stuff seems to be getting through the cracks which does happen in any walk of life.
You never really know how well these things are getting screened as you have not got the statistics on how many advertisements don't get published because they are not within the scope of this scheme.
As for point B, whistleblowing is taking place, and I believe some organisations have had their job bridge "privileges" removed as a result.
I suppose the safeguards are there (in my opinion) however I would still suggest that a lot of these employers would be "forced" to hire someone straight away rather than going via job bridge, job bridge just gives them an opportunity for some cheap labour.

If you take a look on the FAS website you will see that there are more than a few "getting through the cracks".

kippy · 30-05-2012 8:15pm

mac_iomhair wrote: »

If you take a look on the FAS website you will see that there are more than a few "getting through the cracks".

Have you reported them?

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 8:30pm

kippy wrote: »

Have you reported them?

I have set up a petition to try and make a bigger impact. Have you reported them?

kippy · 30-05-2012 8:39pm

mac_iomhair wrote: »

I have set up a petition to try and make a bigger impact. Have you reported them?

Why would I report them? I'm not the one with the big issue.

This petition is pointless by the way.
Hit the media with links to all the adds you believe to be in contravention of the rules if you dont want to report them to those behind Jobbridge.

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 8:47pm

kippy wrote: »

Why would I report them? I'm not the one with the big issue.

This petition is pointless by the way.
Hit the media with links to all the adds you believe to be in contravention of the rules if you dont want to report them to those behind Jobbridge.

How is it pointless? It can be positive. Thanks for your support.

kippy · 30-05-2012 8:49pm

mac_iomhair wrote: »

How is it pointless? It can be positive. Thanks for your support.

It can be, but hitting the media with your concerns, Joe Duffy even, if far more effective for an issue such as this.

mac_iomhair · 30-05-2012 8:52pm

kippy wrote: »

It can be, but hitting the media with your concerns, Joe Duffy even, if far more effective for an issue such as this.

I agree, and if it could gather some steam then change would be made. Start by signing the petition and helping get some numbers behind it.

Bringbackrafa · 31-05-2012 10:59am

I have an interview for a Marketing Internship (3months cover period) next Monday. I don't know why I am doing it but 3 months should be ok. If I do get it and I am not being treated right I will be leaving straight away.

Signed your petition. read so many horror jobbridge stories.

mac_iomhair · 31-05-2012 12:13pm

thanks, I think it would be good if people shared the link amongst their friends. So far 1 TD has signed, if people feel like they want to try and help please do!!:D

Cork24 · 02-06-2012 11:50pm

I love to be on the Jobbridge look at all the Tech jobs out their for thats on it Junior Java Developer, C++ even VMWare are doing it train you up as far VCP..

Aoifs2707 · 13-06-2012 3:33pm

I was on my JobBrige Scheme and my boss was a bully. I got sick of him and told him not to speak to me like that he told me to **** off and shut up. he made my life hell. Needless to say I didnt get offered a fulltime job. Jobbridge is ****, I tried ringing FAS and reporting him and was basically told to grow a pair!!

cricketfan · 13-06-2012 4:44pm

As the OP says, it is taking advantage of the unemployed. By some quirk of magic only us unemployed can see that, probably because only us can see all the real jobs that have suddenly disappeared and become Jobridge roles.

I know for a fact one job I applied for, was withdrawn and then, hey presto, an internship appeared. They changed the job title. A charity as well.

It may have had some credence if employers had to provide some payment to participants. It's a bit like the Household Charge, a hastily thought out and urgently pushed out.

I'm amazed although I shouldn't be, that the national media haven't been critical of it. On the contrary, most of their comments have tended towards the complimentary.

Jobbridge - Taking advantage of the unemployed

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