About EGF
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (the EGF) was established in December 2006 to support workers made redundant as a result of major changes in global trade patterns. The purpose of the EGF is to provide relevant supports to redundant workers to assist them back into employment. The scope of the EGF covers education and training programmes, career advice and guidance, and enterprise supports. EGF programmes are time limited. This means that approved supports may only be provided within a 24 month period starting from the date of submission of an EGF application.
The EGF does not cover all redundant workers. Members states can only make applications for EGF assistance in cases were at least 500 workers are made redundant in a single company over a four month period or in a particular sector of economic activity over a nine month period.
In 2009, the role of the EGF was expanded to cover workers losing their jobs as a result of the global financial and economic crisis. This expansion of its coverage ceases on31st December 2011.
For information on the Regulations establishing the EGF and governing its operations click here.
The EGF in Ireland
Ireland has made seven successful applications to the EGF. Three of these applications were submitted on foot of large scale redundancy situations arising from the closure, during 2009, of facilities at Dell, Waterford Crystal and SR Technics respectively. The subsequent three applications were sectoral and provided supports for workers who were made redundant in the construction sector within the requirements of EGF regulations. These applications covered workers in three sectors of the construction industry; namely:
- NACE 41 – workers and apprentices previously employed by companies involved in the construction of residential and non-residential buildings;
- NACE 43 – workers and apprentices previously employed in companies providing a range of trades allied to construction (e.g., plastering, carpentry, painting, roofing etc); and.
- NACE 71 – workers previously employed in companies providing architectural and engineering services.
All of these programmes are now closed.
On 29th February 2012 the Department of Education and Skills submitted an application seeking co-financing assistance from the EGF for redundant workers at the Talk Talk call centre facility in Waterford and at three ancillary companies. This application was accepted on the 25th October 2012. Information on this programme is available here.
EGF Management and Operations
The Department of Education and Skills is the Managing Authority for the EGF inIreland. It is responsible for preparing and submitting applications to the EGF, overseeing the roll-out of supports to eligible workers, and reporting to the European Commission on services and programmes supported by the EGF.
The EGF Certifying Authority is also located in the Department of Education and Skills. Its role centres on ensuring that expenditure on EGF supported services and programmes is accurate, complies with European and national regulations, and is in line with EGF criteria.
Assisting the Managing Authority are the:
