Nothing seems to have changed in the vetting of advertisements for internships in the JobBridge programme.  But members of the public are fighting back and vetting the adverts themselves – if you spot an advert which appears to be the provision of free labour to a private enterprise or replacement for a previously paying position you can submit the ad to a Tumblr blog.   (Shark jumped there.)

Farcically there have been more advertisements for internships for waiters (Food Service Personnel cough) and cleaner interns in Four Star Hotels in Cork and qualified beauticians in Malahide who will vajazzle you courtesy of a payment from the Department of Social Protection.   The  hotel jobs were pulled following direct action protests to the hotel by twitter and by email.

One could be forgiven in thinking officials in the Department of Social Protection who are vetting these adverts are doing it so badly on purpose in some sort of protest or attempt to try undermine the Minister and the entire programme.   Meanwhile the Minister and Martin Murphy of HP, chairperson of the Job Bridge Steering Group, are taking to the road to talk about the scheme. Next week they are in Athlone for a breakfast briefing (you can apply to attend)

They will speak about the scheme providing

quality internship in an organisation in the private, public or community and voluntary sectors. Its aim is to provide those seeking employment with the opportunity to gain valuable and meaningful, (my emphasis) work experience. By involving themselves in this internship, participants will enhance their skills and ultimately improve their prospects of securing employment in the future.

That’ll be no mention of cleaning, waiting tables, designing websites for free for furniture movers or vajazzling I assume.