At a briefing on Friday evening to key stakeholders on the move to Level 3 COVID restrictions for Dublin, Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary Patricia King called for a reversal of the reductions to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates for impacted workers and for an urgent review of the adequacy of supports for closed businesses, in order to protect incomes and jobs.
Ms King said: 'the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) proved to be vital in maintaining social cohesion and widespread support for the public health measures during the lockdown of the country. If this goodwill is to continue during localised restrictions, affected workers continue to need assurance from Government that their income and job are protected.
She said: "Young people, migrants, and working poor families heavily populate the sectors most impacted by the move to Level 3. Government must reverse the latest reduction to the PUP for these workers, who are being denied the right to work because of a public health emergency.
Ms King added: "Equally, an urgent review of the adequacy of the suite of supports for businesses closing their doors for a second time is needed to guarantee that jobs will be there for workers to return to when the restrictions are lifted."
