Job no guarantee of 'social inclusion'

EMPLOYMENT ALONE is insufficient to guarantee social inclusion, Social Justice Ireland (SJI) has said in a submission to the European Commission.

“The meaning of human development and well-being is being narrowed down by the European Commission to refer only to a narrow employment-oriented and consumer-based approach,’’ said Fr Seán Healy of the SJI.

It argues that while active employment policies are very important, they can constitute only one element of an overarching “sustainable develop-ment’’ strategy for 2020.

“One in every three households at risk of poverty in Ireland is headed by a person with a job,’’ it adds.

“Furthermore, the European Commission itself has concluded in the past that employment cannot represent the solution for all cases of poverty and social exclusion.’’

SJI says that the commission’s vision for 2020, outlined in a working document, contained only superficial social content.

“It sees the EU as a social market economy,’’ it added.