Ictu to campaign against Brexit

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) will today release a report to kickstart its campaign to oppose a British exit from the European Union.

The Case Against Brexit focuses on the perceived threats to Northern Ireland's economy from a vote to leave in the upcoming referendum, but also touches on the possible impact on workers and businesses in the south.

“No part of the island will remain untouched” if the UK votes to leave the European Union, according to Ictu.

The trade union umbrella group argues “Brexit would have significant implications for members’ living standards, for employment and for workers’ rights in both jurisdictions”.

‘Stay’ vote

It reiterates that Ictu’s Northern

Ireland

committee is subject to a members’ motion calling on it to advocate for a “stay” vote, which effectively puts it alongside the British Tory government and mainstream employer lobby groups in the upcoming referendum campaign.

Ictu says a Brexit would have "significant implications" for its members' living standards, and that it would be a threat to international trade in and out of Northern Ireland.

It also warns of job losses in the community sector funded by the EU, highlighting that Northern Ireland is set to receive €3 billion in EU funding up to 2020.

The document also highlights perceived risks to Ireland’s energy sufficiency if European imports into the UK, and possibly into the all-Ireland energy market, were put under threat.

Meanwhile, a report from Indeed. com, the international jobs site whose European headquarters are in Dublin, speculates that Ireland could attract more qualified candidates for jobs if the British vote to leave the EU.

"It's likely that a vote for Brexit would bolster Ireland's attractiveness to talented workers looking for high-quality roles within the European Union," said Mariano Mamertino, an economist with Indeed Hiring Lab, a research division of the company.

Job seekers

“Sectors like technology, pharmaceuticals and financial services would benefit from a larger pool of available candidates for whom a UK outside the European Union might be less accessible or less attractive.”

Europe on the Move, a report by Indeed, says Ireland is the second most attractive location for jobseekers, after Luxembourg, within the 15 countries that have been members of the EU for the longest period.

The report also says Irish workers are the third most numerous foreign jobseekers in the UK market, due to the proximity of the countries and the openness of the UK to Irish citizens.

“The extent to which this would decline [in the event of a Brexit] depends on how open the UK labour market remains to Irish workers should it choose to leave the EU,” says Indeed.