Government-sponsored initiatives to assist workers who have little formal education are being sought by Waterford Crystal.
In a report just published, the company says many people are disadvantaged at work because they lack the education needed for progress.
"Many of these employees walk a tightrope between holding and losing their jobs. Many have few opportunities to progress within existing employment roles due to their one-dimensional set of skills and knowledge," it says.
The report, Learning in Europe, summarises the company's involvement in 12 EU human resource development programmes over the past six years.
The most significant outcome, it says, was the "universal recognition" of the vulnerability of workers who lack formal education.
In Waterford Crystal, it is estimated that 1,000 of the 1,800 staff do not have a Leaving Cert. It is essential that this category of worker is supported and motivated "to establish a level of employability that will sustain employment in the longer term", says the report.
"The essential overriding requirement is for Government - in collaboration with the social partners - to mobilise the many resources available in human resource development and to produce an integrated matrix of development opportunities for every employee in the country."
The company says its involvement in the EU projects has had a significant impact on how it "currently thinks, behaves, works and develops employability status throughout the organisation".
A "heartening feature" of its participation was the discovery and recognition of the tremendous potential of workers who had left formal education early.
"Their performance in many instances surpassed the targets laid down in project objectives. Their committed and pioneering spirit can be activated and energised company-wide if learning from the programmes is facilitated and put into practice over an extended time."