Dozens of homeless people went to the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) yesterday to protest against the council’s temporary work program, saying it involved too many restrictions that would deprive homeless people of the chance to participate.
The protesters said they depended on temporary jobs for survival, while castigating the council’s recently launched program as something they “can only look at” because it has too many restrictions.
The protesters said restrictions such as the one requiring that applicants “must be insured under the national labor insurance program for at least six months within the past three years” and that they “must have signed up for job counseling at a local employment service center in the past month” are too limiting, creating only a mirage for the homeless.
PHOTO: CNA
“Even if by some miracle I were chosen for the program, it’s only temporary, and I would lose my job after 10 days,” a homeless person who identified himself as A-liang said.
In response to the complaints, the council said the nature of the jobs program was to help unemployed middle-aged and elderly workers get through the Lunar New Year because workers in this group usually have heavier financial responsibilities to their families.
The council regularly provides job counseling and job placement services for the homeless, who can receive help by registering at a local employment service center.
The temporary employment program is open to job seekers between the ages of 45 and 65 who have been unemployed for at least one year.
Under the program, the council will first try to find job seekers suitable long-term positions in private businesses or organizations. Those who cannot be matched up to a long-term position are then considered for the temporary job program.
The program will provide those seeking employment a 10-day position at a government agency or non-profit organization starting next Monday.
The temporary work will pay NT$100 per hour for up to eight hours a day, with a maximum of NT$8,000 available to each applicant. The CLA will cover the workers’ national labor insurance and health insurance premiums during this period.
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