Help to find work for furloughed employees

With demand for labour high in sectors like health, retail and agri-food, Minister Dodds urged those seeking alternative employment to register using the Job Centre Online, and to avail of her department’s Career Advisers who could help match relevant skills to available jobs.

The Minister said: “You can make initial contact via our careers webchat or email service and an adviser will contact you usually within one working day. For employers who are experiencing issues filling vacancies, you can also register your opportunities using the Employers online facility. These sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and currently advertising over 6,000 positions per month across 20 different sectors.”

A furloughed employee can work for another employer while furloughed, so long as it is permitted by their employment contract.

Jobseekers can register at JobCentre Online: www.jobcentreonline.com The Careers Service can be contacted online at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers

Minister Dodds also thanked telecoms workers across the north for their provision of a vital service during the COVID-19 crisis.

Following the recent vandalism of a telephone mast in Belfast, the Minister also lambasted those who “falsely linked the roll-out of 5G to the spread of COVID-19”.

She warned that these unfounded claims not only fuelled anxiety but were used to justify arson attacks and the abuse of telecoms engineers while on duty.