All workers are to get a right to be paid for up to ten days of sick leave per year by 2025, under plans agreed by the Government today.Cabinet has signed off on new legislation to give all workers the right to paid sick leave.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said it is being phased in to help employers, particularly small businesses, to plan ahead and manage the additional cost, which has been capped.Sick pay will be paid by employers at a rate of 70% of an employee’s wage, subject to a daily threshold of €110.
An impact analysis carried out by the State estimates this to be equivalent to a 2.6% pay increase in terms of value to the average employee who currently receives no sick pay from their employer.It will be possible for the Government to vary this amount to keep it aligned with inflation and incomes using a ministerial order.According to the Government, the bill will provide a minimum level of protection to low paid employees without an entitlement to company sick pay schemes.
“Ireland is one of the few advanced countries in Europe not to have a mandatory sick pay scheme,” said Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar.