Young workers out in the cold

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil is calling for action to help young apprentices through the slump in construction.

Despite guarantees in the last budget that safeguards would be put in place by the Scottish Government, more than 800 apprentices have been laid off across Scotland.

Mr McNeil has been contacted by two local apprentices laid off just a few months short of getting their papers.

Now the MSP is calling for action to prevent these young workers being lost to the construction industry and leaving Scotland with a significant skills gap.

He is calling for:
- A single central helpline that young workers can turn to when they are made redundant
- A database of every apprentice made redundant
- A scheme to support employers who retain and offer work to apprentices

Mr McNeil said: “These boys are willing to learn and willing to work but are being shut out by the slump in the construction sector.

“The Scottish Government made a number of promises to young apprentices that would have safeguarded their jobs but clearly they are failing to deliver them.

“At the end of the day, it won’t be just these young workers who lose out – we are going to need skilled tradesman when we come out of this economic downturn to build our schools and hospitals.

“But this talent will be lost because they have been forced to look elsewhere for a job.

“I have suggested a number of practical measures that would help these young people and I hope the Scottish Government are listening – we must take action or we will all lose out.”

ENDS