by Breda O'Malley March-04-2021 in Employment Law, COVID-19
The Government recently announced its new and updated “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead” which sets out a roadmap to the easing of restrictions over the coming months. Within that plan, the following supports, which are of interest to employers, are being extended until 30 June 2021.
- Pandemic Unemployment Payment
- Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)
- Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit
- Suspension of redundancy provisions
Pandemic Unemployment Payment
From 16 October 2020 until 30 June 2021, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be paid at 4 rates. The rate of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will depend on pre-COVID income:
- employees earning up to €200 per week will receive €203 per week
- employees earning between €200 and €299.99 per week will receive €250 per week
- employees earning between €300 and €399.99 per week will receive €300 per week
- employees earning €400 or more per week will receive €350 per week
Employees unable to go to work due to a lack of childcare during Level 5 restrictions may be eligible to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme
An employer’s eligibility to qualify for the EWSS from 1 January 2021, will be based on the employer’s ability to demonstrate that due to COVID-19, there will be at least a 30% reduction in their business turnover/customer orders between 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021, by reference to the period from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2019. The existing rates are currently extended until 30 June 2021.
Covid-19 Enhanced illness Benefit
If an employee is medically certified by a doctor as being diagnosed with COVID-19 or, is required to self-isolate, there are no “waiting days” for the special COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment. This is paid at the rate of €350 per week by the Department of Social Protection.
Separately, from Monday 1 March 2021, the number of “waiting days” for the standard Illness Benefit payment is being reduced from 6 days to 3 days.
Redundancy during lay-off and short-time
Prior to COVID-19, if employees were laid off or, placed on short-time, they may have been entitled to make a claim for a statutory redundancy payment. Following the implementation of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest COVID-19 Act 2020, this entitlement was suspended during the emergency period and will continue to be suspended until 30 June 2021.
For further information on any of these issues, please contact Breda O'Malley bomalley@hayes-solicitors.ie, any member of the Employment Law Team at Hayes solicitors.
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About the Author
Breda O'Malley
Breda practises in both Employment and Commercial Law and is Partner and Head of the Employment Law team at Hayes solicitors. Breda has trained and qualified as a mediator with the UK based, internationally renowned Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR). Breda practices as a mediator of commercial, employment, boardroom, charity trustee and shareholder disputes.