‘Shock Covid payment report’

A Government report which reveals that almost 40% of workers in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment are better off now than before the pandemic has been described as “shocking” by Cllr Declan Bree.

SPEAKING to The Sligo Champion Cllr Bree said, “The report confirms that more than 200,000 workers in receipt of the €350 pandemic unemployment payment were paid less than €300 a week before the payment was introduced. “IF ever evidence was required to highlight the level of low paid workers in this country, this report clearly provides it. It is shocking and hard to believe that over 200,000 people who lost their jobs are better off unemployed today than when they were while working.

“IT clearly confirms what many of us on the Left and in the trade union movement have been saying about exploitation and low pay.

“THE contents of the report also makes a nonsense of the many speeches we heard from Government ministers before the pandemic proclaiming we had almost full employment. “IT must also be noted that many of the front line workers keeping the country going during the pandemic are of the low pay category and their labour has consistently been grossly undervalued.

“LOW paid workers paid a disproportionate penalty for a banking crisis not of their making and we must now ensure that the same workers will not be further penalised as we deal with the outfall of the corona pandemic.

“THE coronavirus has exposed the amount of precarious work in Ireland. Minimum hour, part-time contracts, precarious work and the gig economy must all be abolished along with anti trade union legislation such as the 1990 Industrial Relations Act.

“WE need to provide permanent, secure jobs with a living wage so as to ensure that workers and their families are not living below the poverty line when employed.

“IT is often at a time of crisis when what was once hidden becomes clear and easier to understand. The financial crisis of 2010 clearly illustrated how governments rushed to prop up the banks and private financial institutions. “We have learned from that crisis that finance can be made available when required. “HOWEVER, on this occasion it must be used to ensure that workers and businesses get through this crisis, and to ensure that there is adequate funding and investment in public services including health, education and housing.” said Cllr Bree.