Opposition proposed a new bill to increase bank holidays in Ireland
DUBLIN: People Before Profit Ireland has introduced a bill to increase the number of bank holidays in Ireland. The party has suggested establishing three additional bank holidays. The dates mentioned in the bill are February 1, the last Monday in September and the last Monday in November in each calendar year.
The PBP bill calls for more leave, given the workload and stress that frontline staff like health workers and nurses, cleaners, retail staff and public transport workers face.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said workers in Ireland deserve more bank holidays and the Government should pass this bill without opposition.
“We think it’s absolutely necessary to recognise the work of frontline workers though Covid and in general, Irish workers work on average more than two extra weeks a year than the EU average,” said Mr Murphy, a spokesperson on employment rights.
Ireland lags behind in terms of holidays
The PBP said Ireland is currently lagging behind various EU countries in terms of bank holidays. France has a minimum 30 days of holiday entitlements and 11 paid public holidays, whereas Ireland has a minimum of 20 days of holiday entitlements and 9 paid public holidays.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic workers in Ireland have been working the equivalent of 38 extra hours per month, according to a LinkedIn survey, and have experienced increased stress levels working from home. It is only right and fair that workers in this country who work extremely hard are rewarded with extra public holidays,” Paul Murphy said.
Richard Boyd Barrett said that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit workers hard. “Many of these workers, in the main, are not paid enough for the work that they have done and the efforts they have and are putting in over this pandemic,” he added.
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