Despite suggestions that the 642 unemployed people in the Island should consider retraining to take advantage of vacancies that exist in the labour market, Deputy Jennifer Bridge has warned that if someone does retrain they lose their eligibility for child support allowance under the existing criteria.On Tuesday it was reported that unemployment had tripled in the last year, but Employment and Social Security Committee president Senator Paul Routier said that people should consider retraining, as there were jobs available.Earlier this week he said that he recognised that there was an issue to be looked at with regard to retraining and the allowance, and said he wanted to discuss it with the Deputy.’If people need to retrain to get jobs that are available, then clearly out of those 642 people who are on the list, it would be interesting to know how many of them had childcare allowance and have lost the allowance because they are not in work,’ said Deputy Bridge.She is calling for a review of the criteria for the allowance, to allow more people to qualify.Senator Routier said that the new income support system, which is due to come online in 2006, would take child care issues into account.
And he said that the child care allowance scheme would be reviewed in the New Year.
