Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT is to make it compulsory for jobseekers to sign up to its new Universal Jobsmatch website in order to look for employment – and warns those who do not use the site’s services could lose their benefits.
The website allows unemployed users to upload a CV, which is then matched to suitable job openings. It also allows employers to send messages to jobseekers and invite them to interview.
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the scheme would “revolutionise” the process of looking for work.
However, government officials will also be able to remotely monitor the activities of jobseekers on the website and determine whether they are genuinely making an effort to find work.
Using devices called ‘cookies’, advisers will be able to see how often benefit claimants search for employment and whether they are turning down viable opportunities .
While the tracking element is not compulsory – as EU law forbids the monitoring of people online without their consent – job advisers will be able to impose sanctions if they feel unemployed persons are not trying hard enough to find work, the Telegraph reports.
The website itself has also been the subject of serious criticism, after it was confirmed that bogus and spam accounts masquerading as employers had been accessing people’s personal information.
A Channel 4 News investigation into the site’s security revealed that a group of hackers were able to glean the personal details of dozens of job applicants on the site – including passwords, national insurance numbers and scans of their passports.
Duncan Smith said thousands of bogus accounts had now been removed from the site and that security had been improved, but some jobseekers say they remain uncomfortable uploading personal details.
“We have been clear that this is not mandatory yet and there will be no sanctions for not joining…but mandation will begin in the new year,” Duncan Smith said.
The site has been set up by recruitment firm Monster, which is being paid £16.7 million (€20.54 million) for its services.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
In other news Water Charges will cause a drop in income…
Well, lets face it…..it’s €160-€260 less to spend in your local community so businesses will take a hit.
In other news the drop in inflation means more disposable income in your pocket at the end of each week
If prices are down 0.6% would this not mean that we had deflation in 2014. Why then does this say that we had an inflation rate of 0.2% last year.
http://www.inflation.eu/inflation-rates/ireland/historic-inflation/cpi-inflation-ireland-2014.aspx
JTM..petrol/diesel/home heating costs rising and quantitive easing of the € will drive up imports. Disposable income (if such a thing exists) will be devoured quickly.
Let’s not contribute to inflation then – don’t pay!
When are they going to get it through their thick heads?
We are NOT paying. Not ever. NEVER!!!
And fuel prices have begun to creep back up again. 6c increase in last 2 weeks at one station I pass daily.
” mainly due to the low cost of fuel” well that lasted all of 2 weeks at most, prices are climbing again at the fuel pumps, up 5 cent in less that 2 weeks . and what about the up coming increase of nearly 50% in the pso levy (due in october by the time vat is added it will push it over 50%) how come there is no report on that ?
Did not see any mention today about Michael noonan saying maintenance bill for government buildings to be hiked by 1 million because they need new carpets for health and safety because they are frayed and new phones. God forbid that they have to walk on worn carpets while children with cancer can’t get medical cards. Shows where priority lies with this government.
I hear the bar seats are also worn, better change them while their at it.
I just wish they hadn’t cut funding for grammar-school from the budget.
My employer which will remain anonymous offered us 3 free bottles of water a day few months back, still on minimum wage however
Topaz?
Certain contacts do not permit certain things to be said about certain company and/or people.
I also offered them a free screen wash if the had a car.
Yeah, yeah Journal. It’s good news all the way, today and every day. Seriously, Journal, would you care to have an oul’ editorial conference sometime, after which you can make clear to your readership what, if any, your principles are.
Good news?, the only reason that prices are going down is because demand has dropped due to repeated drops in people’s spending power.
Inflation increases debt, how can debt be anyway good in anything?
Gulp!
have your say