Derry needs full-time jobs

Derry MLA Mary Nelis

Speaking following the announcement on Tuesday of a potential 400 call centre jobs in Derry, Foyle Assembly member Mary Nelis warned that Derry City and the Northwest need a balanced approach to economic development if the area is to achieve sustainable economic growth.

"While Sinn Féin welcomes today's announcement of mortgage processing jobs to the city," she said, "we note with concern that the description of the claimed number of jobs includes the term 'full-time equivalents', which suggests that many of these positions will be part-time and likely low paid. The projected annual wage bill equates to an average salary of £12,500, or £240 per week. This would place staff with families eligible for tax credits and does not represent the promised change in approach to industrial investment in this area. It is again indicative of selling the Northwest as a low-wage economy, where footloose companies come and go at will, swallowing up large amounts of grant aid in the process.

"The city requires real full time jobs if we are to emerge from the economic recession that exists West of the Bann. The city has been down this road before with the promised hundreds of BT call centre jobs that never materialized. It is critical, therefore, that we learn from that experience and the INI £3.2m grant aid package must be made conditional upon the full delivery of these promised jobs to Derry. INI must also insist that the full mix of jobs detailed by the company are located within the city and that we do not end up hosting a 'McDonald's' type call centre, with labour turnover rates of 200%+, which has been the experience elsewhere.

"In the interim, before these jobs come on line in September 2004, INI must come up with initiatives which will provide a balanced economic industrial infrastructure which will be sustainable."