Commissioner to establish full facts surrounding Dell case

Issued : Wednesday 14 July, 2010

Speaking following a meeting between Dell worker representatives and EU Employment Commissioner, Laszlo Andor, Alan Kelly welcomed the commitment from the commission to establish the facts surrounding the €22.8 million Dell case.

"I am greatly relieved that the Commission intend to find out what exactly is happening with the Dell EGF case in Ireland.

"To date approximately only €3million of the fund has been spent with only eleven months left now to spend approximately €20 million.

"The steering group for the fund predicted an under-spend of minimum €8.

"Yet it would appear as if the Commission were being told that everything was rosy in the garden.

"However it became very clear from the anger and frustration of workers present that the benefits of the fund are not being felt by workers.

"Workers reported to the Commissioner that they are being drowned in red tape, regulations and rapidly losing faith in the fund.

"The root of the problems stems from the fact that the Irish government are supposed to consult the workers before they submit an application.

"This didn't happen even though they reported to the Commission they did consult with 'social partners'.

"The result of this has been that they have designed the structures of the EGF to suit the state agencies themselves and not the workers.

"Workers are being pressured into accepting FAS courses they don't want or need rather than trying to tailor the EGF to suit them.

"The Commission made it clear that fund can be tailored to guide individuals as to the best help they need or it least that it should be if the government applied for it correctly.

"However the failure to consult workers initially has meant that they have felt out of the process from day one and many workers have now no interest in using the fund.

"The fact that this is happening is disgraceful.

"The workers are also very concerned that no new measures are being offered by the state to benefit workers.

"They are only being offered, for the most part, existing programmes rather than tailoring new initiatives for workers needs.

"The Commissioner and his officials listened very carefully to the concerns of workers and hopefully all sides can co-operate to make sure this fund works properly and that the workers are treated fairly in this process.