Under a new law approved by cabinet, all workers in Ireland will be legally entitled to ten days of sick pay within the next four years.
The statutory sick pay scheme will begin with three days payable per year in 2022, increasing to five days in 2023, and seven in 2024.
10 Days from 2025
By the year 2025, employers will be liable to cover 10 days of sick leave per year.
The purpose of phasing the scheme in gradually is to assist small businesses and employers plan ahead and adequately manage the additional costs that will be incurred.
Following approval of the sick pay scheme bill, assuming support by the Oireachtas, it will be published before the Dáil summer recess and enacted by the end of the year.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the scheme will be in place from January next year, and that he hoped the opposition would support it.
“At the moment workers and employees have a right to sick leave if they are ill, but they don’t have the right to sick pay from their employers,” Mr Varadkar said.
“Illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection only kicks in after four days of absence. And that is what we are going to change.
“Better Terms and Conditions for Workers”
“One of the legacies of this pandemic is that there is going to be better terms and conditions for all workers, particularly those essential workers in the private sector who generally have lower pay and lower terms and conditions.
“It’s simply not right that those who are sick are often afraid to take time off for fear of major reduction in their outcome. We know it’s not good when it comes to public health there is a risk of infecting co-workers and customers as well.”
The Tánaiste further added that it will be applicable to all illnesses and employees, provided that they have been on the job longer than six months, and that the only requirement is a sick note from a doctor. Once the entitlement to sick pay from the employer ends, employees who need more time to recover may qualify for illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection, subject to PRSI contributions.
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