BOSSES should be given a cash incentive to recruit long-term unemployed young Scots for work experience placements, a report suggests.
With the Scottish Government having warned the coronavirus crisis could see the unemployment rate rise from its current 4.6% to 14% by the end of 2020, ministers are also being urged to look at what can be done to minimise “failures of otherwise successful businesses”.
The report, produced by a sub-group of the existing Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, recommends the Government “must look at fiscal options directly or via the banks”.
Board chair Nora Senior said the group had “worked at pace to develop recommendations that we believe can be implemented quickly – not just to help keep people in employment, but also to support those facing redundancy or those who have already lost their job”.
Senior, an award-winning businesswoman who has served as president of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: “The report highlights the need for a society-wide, civic response.
“The Scottish Government, its agencies, partners such as local authorities and crucially employers in all sectors should come together immediately to contribute to the effort required to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.”
The sub-group also includes Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Liz Cameron, Frank Mitchell of Skills Development Scotland, and former Scottish Trades Union Congress general-secretary Grahame Smith.
The Scottish Government had asked the group to look at what practical measures can be put in place quickly.
The report recommends short placement schemes providing work experience for under-25s who have been out of work for six months, with an employer subsidy introduced.
It also called for direct grants for training or retraining workers in sectors hit the hardest by Covid-19 such as hospitality and tourism.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here