The Government’s JobBridge scheme has come under fire after it was revealed that two companies were advertising internships that required PhD qualifications. The two candidates along with the basic dole rate, would only receive €50 extra on top of that, despite their high qualifications. One of the pharmaceutical companies, ClaroChem, in Dublin, had advertised a position of PhD intern, for a 39-hour-week programme for six months and according to the Irish Independent the role was filled. Applicants were to have a minimum of a PhD in synthetic chemistry. Another pharmaceutical plant in Cork, Hovione, is currently seeking applications for an internship that had a "base requirement" of a PhD in chemistry or synthetic organic chemistry. "We don't make the rules of the scheme, it's a government scheme” said a spokesperson for ClaroChem Ireland, who insisted that they were not taking advantage of people. “We offered the position to people who could not get employment”. The Irish Independent reports that the company has previously hired interns under the JobBridge scheme and all were offered fully paid employment with other companies before the end of their internships. The JobBridge description for ClaroChem can be seen below: Image via The University Times