Irish Government in breach of laws on prohibition of forced labour

16.4.2014

Question for written answer P-004854-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Paul Murphy (GUE/NGL)

Does the Commission believe that the Irish Government, in its implementation of the Youth Guarantee[1], is in breach of Article 5 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which states that ‘no one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour’?

Under the Youth Guarantee, unemployed young people who refuse to participate in the JobBridge scheme (which involves working 40 hours a week for an additional EUR 50) can have their unemployment benefits cut from EUR 100 per week to EUR 75. On a related note, those who refuse to participate in the similar Gateway scheme (which involves working 19.5 hours a week for local authorities for an additional EUR 20) may also have their social welfare payments cut. There is evidence that those who refused to take part have already had their payments cut.

• [1] https://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/Youth-Guarantee-Implementation-Plan.pdf

OJ C 402, 13/11/2014