BUSINESS GROUPS have called on the Government to prioritise the restoration of cost-competitiveness in order to stem the flood of job losses, as the latest figures revealed a 96 per cent spike in redundancies so far this year.
According to data released yesterday, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was notified of 5,903 redundancies in November.
This brings the total redundancies so far this year to just over 73,000, almost double the number recorded in the same period in 2008.
Yesterday’s figures did contain a glimmer of hope though, as the level of redundancies last month shrank by 10 per cent compared to October.
However, director of the Small Firms Association Patricia Callan warned that, unless costs such as energy and local authority commercial rates are reduced, small businesses will have to cut those costs that are within their control. “This will inevitably mean a further loss of jobs,” she said.
The Irish Small Medium Enterprises Association (Isme) also called on the Government to address cost-competitiveness, for example by reducing employers’ PRSI and local charges, in order to facilitate employment maintenance and job creation.
Male employees again bore the brunt of redundancies last month, making up almost two-thirds of those reported to the department.
