Tánaiste said the Living Wage scheme would be expanded to include more categories; sick leave conditions will also be revised
DUBLIN: Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has suggested that essential workers in retail, transport, cleaning and food services should also get living wages, including occupational pensions. But he didn’t say when the government would enact legislation to make this happen. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment was addressing a seminar of the Employment Bar Association.
Typically, leading workers include doctors, nurses, gardaí, firemen, and those in uniform with good public sector jobs. This is a traditional view. Tánaiste told a seminar of employment law experts that the definition’s scope needed to be redefined in the context of COVID-19.
Now this definition also includes workers in the retail and transportation sectors, cleaners and food service staff. They should get better terms and conditions, including living wages and pensions- Mr. Varadkar said.
Sick Benefit Scheme will be revised
The COVID-19 Sick Benefit Scheme, which the government implemented in the wake of the Pandemic, also needs to be updated. Tánaiste said that a long-term and sustainable plan for all illness needs to be established.
He pointed out that Ireland is one of only a few European countries with no legal obligation on employers to provide for sick pay.
“This needs to change and I am committed to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme that works for employees and employers as quickly as possible and will bring forward legislation shortly,” the Tánaiste stated.
He said legislation would be enacted to ensure better social security, including paternity benefits, parental leave, and increased social insurance benefits for the self-employed and those in the gig economy. Workers who have been working for the last five years will get this benefit.
Development should be extended to the villages as well
Mr. Varadkar also called for the creation of new jobs for people in rural Ireland. New investment should come in small towns and villages. Those with disabilities or those with caring responsibilities should also get better openings, Varadkar said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said the National Minimum Wage recommendations were submitted to the government by the Low Pay Commission every year. A report on this matter will be available in the second half of this year. Tánaiste is in favor of giving living wage not only to essential workers but to all employees, spokesperson said.
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