Parental leave in new sick pay Bill
PROPOSED Labour Party legislation to provide for sick pay for workers who are off due to illness would also provide for parental leave for parents whose children are absent from school due to COVID, Cork East TD Seán Sherlock has said.
Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Deputy Sherlock said that the issue of parental leave had to be addressed in the Bill due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our schools have reopened and parents have been in a position to return to work.
“However, the threat still remains of COVID-19,
and many parents will be forced to take unpaid leave and we’ve seen the evidence of that already for the duration of the school closure.
“Those that may be struggling financially will find it incredibly difficult to cope if they’re forced to take on paid leave, leave to work out to look after children.
“In such a case an employee who is the parent or adoptive parent of a child will be entitled to paid COVID-19 parental leave at full pay for so long as the child is unable to attend the school or preschool, so long as the presence of the employee is required at their home.”
All three Government parties have indicated they will delay implementing the Bill for six months if it is passed when the vote takes place next week.
“Ireland is an outlier in Europe in not having paid sick leave, and it has been highlighted by NPHET and the acting Chief Medical Officer as a problem in controlling outbreaks,” said Labour Party leader Alan Kelly.
“If an employer does not provide sick pay, then a worker will be liable to a serious drop in income.
“The Covid-19 enhanced illness payment is paid at roughly half the average weekly wage, while the regular illness benefit payment of €203 may be all that is available to a worker in other circumstances, if they qualify.”