Letter: Way to save jobs

The GMB union has warned that 150,000 council jobs are at risk from the government spending cuts (your report, 3 February), but would it consider secondment of public sector staff to the private sector to reduce voluntary and compulsory redundancies?

At present, private sector employees are often seconded into the public sector but the reverse is less common. I believe a new Scottish Government Secondment Scheme should be created to enable public sector employees to gain experience with private firms during these difficult economic times.

The success of this scheme would depend on employment availability, some business-friendly policies after the coming election and new contractual links with a range of local businesses.

In addition to reducing redundancy numbers there are other advantages to this proposal, including all the regulatory and legislative experience that public sector staff would bring to the private sector.

In return, these employees would gain experience in a commercial environment which would help their career progression and be invaluable when helping with efficiency initiatives when they return to the public sector.

This proposal would not solve all the difficulties that will arise from spending reductions, but it should be considered as it would help reduce the high costs associated with public sector redundancies and help reduce overall redundancy numbers.

Brian Clifford Pope CEng MICE MIHT

Beechgrove

Lockerbie