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WORKERS who have lost their jobs as part of the new employment services system are asking the Federal Government to direct successful service providers to give them priority on newly created positions.

Rallies were held around the country yesterday to protest against the awarding of contracts under the Government's $4 billion shake-up of employment services.

"Many Job Network staff and their families still face an uncertain future," the state secretary of the Australian Services Union, Sally McManus, said.

"The onus is now on the Federal Government to help these job placement workers find secure employment."

The new contracts are part of a redesign of the Job Network, which will be known as Job Services Australia from July. The revamped system will merge all existing employment programs.

Many of the large not-for-profit organisations lost their contracts, including Mission Australia, the Salvation Army and employment organisations run by the Catholic church.

The union estimates as many as 5000 people will lose their jobs but many of those are expected to be employed by the organisations that were successful in winning contracts to run job and other training services.

The union wants greater guarantees from the Government that this will happen. Existing Job Network staff should be given priority when employees are being hired, the union said.

A Senate inquiry is likely to be held into the new system.