All Irish workers will be entitled to paid sick pay for the first time later this year under new laws, after the Cabinet gave the green-light to Tanáiste Leo Varadkar on his Sick Leave Bill.
Ireland is one of few advanced economies in Europe without a mandatory sick leave entitlement – with only about half of all workers benefitting from the payment.
Mr Varadkar said: “No one should feel pressured to come to work when they are ill because they can’t afford not to.
“It will be available to all workers, regardless of their illness.”
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The new scheme will start with three days per year once the Bill is enacted, rising to five days in 2024, seven days in 2025, and ten days in 2026.
Sick pay will be paid by employers at a rate of 70% of an employee’s wage, subject to a daily maximum threshold of €110. The daily earnings threshold of €110 is based on 2019 mean weekly earnings of €786.33 and equates to an annual salary of €40,889.16. It can be revised by ministerial order in line with inflation and changing incomes.
The Tanaiste added: "The pandemic exposed the precarious position of many people, especially in the private sector and in low-paid roles, when it comes to missing work due to illness.
"No one should feel pressured to come to work when they are ill because they can’t afford not to. Ireland is one of the few advanced countries in Europe not to have a mandatory sick pay scheme and although many, we think approximately half, of employers do provide sick pay, we need to make sure that security, that safety net, is there for all workers, regardless of their job. It has to be one of the legacies of the pandemic. It will be available to all workers, regardless of their illness.”
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