“HIGH level” talks on the issue of sick pay for workers hit by the coronavirus outbreak have been held at Government Buildings today.
Senior government officials, as well as trade union representatives and industry personnel attended the talks, RTE News reports.
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Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary Patricia King told RTE there had been positive engagement at the meeting – and all parties involved are eager to come to a solution.
And Ibec’s Maeve McElwee said definite plans should be finalised over the next few days.
It’s reported that talks may continue over the weekend and the Cabinet sub-committee is also set to debate the issue early next week.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ireland yesterday climbed to 13.
PAY FEARS
It emerged earlier this week that Irish workers who self-isolate as a precaution against coronavirus may not be entitled to sick pay.
Employees are advised to follow HSE and HPSC advice amid the Covid-19 outbreak – but sick pay may not apply depending on terms of employment contracts.
The WRC says employers have a “general duty of care” to ensure the safety, health and welfare of their employees at work “so far as is reasonably practical” under The Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
And employees must ensure they “do not pose a threat to the safety of others in their workplace”, under the same act.
But sick pay during any period of isolation will depend on “terms and conditions of the contract of employment, subject to obligations set down in law”, the WRC said.
CLARITY NEEDED
The Government was later urged to clarify whether it will provide financial assistance to workers who are asked to self-quarantine due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Scoil Cathriona case in Dublin had sparked fears that workers could be left without pay if they are forced to lock themselves away in quarantine for two weeks when the virus spreads.
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There were particular concerns for self employed of zero hour contract workers such as hospital cleaners who have no sick pay schemes in their contract.
The World Health Organisation’s guidelines claim that the State should provide assistance to help workers who are hit in the pocket if they are forced to self-isolate.
Sinn Fein called on the Government to guarantee protections to allow all workers the confidence to take whatever sick leave is necessary.
WORKERS ‘NEED GUARANTEES’
The party’s health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly told the Irish Sun: “Advice and protections for workers must be guaranteed.
“We need to ensure that employees are protected and that they have the confidence that they can take any leave as required.
“Such assurances will be extremely important as the situation will be extremely important as the situation progresses as they would allow employees to come forward with confidence to self report, reduce risk, and protect themselves and the public.”
Meanwhile, public health authorities are “working rapidly” to identify contacts of a doctor and his family who are being treated for coronavirus in University Hospital Limerick.
The doctor, his wife and their two children, have been put into isolation bays at UHL.
The risk of catching coronavirus in Ireland is still low to moderate, but this could change, the HSE states.
Contact HSE helpline: 1850 24 1850 from 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday and from 10am – 5pm Saturday to Sunday.
HSE advice states you can help to protect yourself from Covid-19 by:
- Washing your hands properly and often
- Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze.
- Putting used tissues into a bin and wash your hands.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Trying to avoid close contact with people who are not well.
- Following the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
And Youghal in Co Cork has become the first town to scrap their St Patrick’s Day parade because of the coronavirus.
More than 60 members of staff at Cork University Hospital have been asked to self-isolate after a Covid-19 case via community transmission was discovered at the hospital.
The Department of Health’s Chief Medical Officer last night called for a “national effort” in the fight to combat coronavirus.
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