Proposals
for cheaper travel cards to encourage part-time workers to journey into London
have been backed by the London Mayor.
Ken
Livingstone said it is an “excellent idea” but stressed that the financial
implications of the proposals have to be explored.
Livingstone
was speaking at the launch of the London Chamber of Commerce’s Skills and
Employment Forum campaign to tackle skill shortages in the capital.
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He
said employers have to help break the culture of unemployment in
under-privileged areas. “We are seeing a third generation of kids growing up on
dehumanising estates who have never experienced regular work.”
Iain
Herbertson, chairman of the forum and managing director of Manpower, called for
more senior business people to become school governors. He said, “If businesses
are serious about tackling their own skills shortage problem, they need to
build links with schools and colleges on their doorstep.” www.londonchamber.co.uk
