‘Buy Social’ policy can create many jobs: MLA

The Foyle MLA was commenting after a Sinn Féin delegation, also including party Councillor Michael Cooper, met with officials to discuss progress on the creation of a Job Creation and Skills Unit at Derry & Strabane Council.

“We must embed a ‘Buy Social policy’ across all council departments in line with the Sinn Féin motion agreed by the Council. This would require all suppliers awarded council contracts or orders to provide meaningful and mentored job opportunities to the long-term unemployed as a condition of the contract. We anticipate the rigorous implementation of the policy in the New Year could create hundreds of additional jobs for Derry.

“To complement the Buy Social policy, we also emphasised to officials the need for tailored programmes to be developed to target those citizens who are furthest away from employment.

“This includes Sinn Féin’s proposals for council to work with other employers and youth services to establish a Summer Employment Programme that would see young people offered summer employment and direction to longer term job and training opportunities in order to break the cycle of long-term unemployment.”

Ms. Anderson said the Council and Stormont departments need to work with local training and educational providers to identify the type of skills required by local employers.

“The Covid pandemic has decimated certain sectors so it is vital that training programmes are targeted at those sectors which are predicted to expand and which can provide well paid jobs.

“Sinn Féin will continue to engage with officers in the coming months to ensure our proposals move forward to maximise the employment and training opportunities for our citizens,” said the Foyle MLA.