Strategy needed to protect jobs and living standards from Brexit threat: ICTU

The government has been called on to safeguard Irish jobs after Brexit.

Strategy needed to protect jobs and living standards from Brexit threat: ICTU

The government has been called on to safeguard Irish jobs after Brexit.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said the government must immediately develop a clear strategy to counter the real threat to the jobs and economic well being of tens of thousands of workers arising from Brexit.

"From the outset Congress has consistenly warned that workers and their families would bear the brunt of the UK's decision to exit the European Union and our fears appear to be confirmed by findings of a new study from Copenhagen Economics on the likely impact of Brexit on the Irish economy," said ICTU's general secretary Patricia King.

"This report should set alarm bells ringing in government. They now have a clear responsibility to put in place a clear, coherent and properly-resourced strategy to offset the threat to jobs and living standards across the economy, from Brexit.

"In the absence of such an overarching strategy, Brexit has the potential to inflict serious damgae on the economy, which will in turn impact on the incomes, living standards and livelihoods of workers."

The study from Copenhagen Economics showed that up to 30,000 jobs in the agri-food, pharma and chemical sectors could be at risk, when the UK exits the EU.

Brexit would also impact negatively on wages for lower-skilled workers, it revealed.

"Congress has been persistently argued that government has an obligation to protect the security of these 'at risk' jobs. Retraining and upskilling programmes are vital and should be instigated immediately," Ms King added.

Read the Copenhagen Economics report here:

- Digital Desk

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

FILE PHOTO The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has cleared the purchase of Goodbody Stockbrokers by AIB END Goodbody Stockbrokers fined over €1.2m by Central Bank over rules breaches
Nottingham City Centre Stock Irish staff at the Body Shop wait for wages as retailer shuts stores in the Republic
Ryanair comments on Norwegian Ryanair boss O'Leary's spat with Transport Minister over Dublin Airport escalates
IE logo
Devices


UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IRISH EXAMINER FOR TEAMS AND ORGANISATIONS
FIND OUT MORE

The Business Hub
Newsletter

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Sign up
ie logo
Puzzles Logo

Play digital puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and a variety of word games including the popular Word Wheel

Lunchtime News
Newsletter

Keep up with the stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited