EU cash could help redundant Jaguar Workers says local MEP (North Shropshire Liberal Democrats)

North Shropshire Liberal Democrats <roma.hoseason@btinternet.com>

EU cash could help redundant Jaguar Workers says local MEP

January 14, 2009 4:44 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

Local Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has today called on the Government to support plans by the European Commission to reform the EU´s Globalisation Adjustment Fund which would allow the Government to apply for EU money to directly support workers made redundant by the Jaguar Land Rover Group.

Liz, who is Vice- President of the Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, supported the formation of the Globalisation Adjustment fund and is now backing proposed changes to the scheme that would enable the UK Government to apply for financial aid to go towards training programmes for laid off workers.

Speaking today Liz said

"The news of yet more redundancies is a bitter blow for hundreds of hard working people already struggling in what are difficult economic times and I am actively investigating what EU money may be available to help out.

"I wholeheartedly back plans by the European Commission to lower the threshold required for aid applications to the EU´s Globalisation Adjustment Fund as the money from this could go directly into training programmes for laid off workers.

"The Government must now back plans to reform this fund when they come before EU Member States next week and immediately put in an application for aid if this is possible.

"Gordon Brown's reaction to the job losses today, whereby redundant workers will be able to use job centre plus are woefully inadequate as this is an existing service."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The European Commission is planning to extend its Globalisation Adjustment Fund to be able to help workers made redundant because of the ongoing global economic crisis. The new rules, which still have to be approved by member states (next week), include lowering the threshold for applications under the fund from the present 1,000 workers to 500, extending the aid period from 12 to 24 months and increasing EU financial assistance from 50 to 75 per cent of the cost of schemes devised by member states to help redundant workers reintegrate into the job market.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund provides up to €500 million each year to support the reintegration into the labour market of workers who lose their jobs due to the consequences of globalisation. Member states have to apply to tap the funds, which provide one-off, time-limited individual support, geared directly to the redundant workers.