Details needed on Covid Payment extension
Labour Party Senator Rebecca Moynihan has called on the Government to provide certainty on the future timeline and levels of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and other extraordinary support payments, and repeated the Labour Party call for income certainty for workers who have lost their jobs.
Senator Moynihan said:
“The Labour Party has been crystal clear that the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment supports must continue until all sectors are reopened, and workers are able to return to their jobs.
“There were soundings today from the Taoiseach, that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will continue until at least the middle of June, however young people and those who work in sectors that are going to be slower to re-open such as tourism and hospitality need more certainty that they will still have state support until they are able to go back to work.
“Between the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors over 218,000 workers are in receipt of the pandemic payment. These workers need to know whether the Government intend on paying this payment at the rate of €350 per week until their workplace is allowed to reopen.
“We know that those who work in the retail and hospitality industries are in the main younger people who are less likely to own their own home and have high outgoings such as rent. Their rents aren’t being deferred and need assurance that can continue to afford their housing until they are able to go back to work.
“After two months we don’t have the full details of the promised childcare scheme but we are already laying the political ground for a move which will leave the younger and lower paid in a vulnerable position.
“These people need open and clear communication from Government at this point and assurances that these payments will continue to help those who are out of work in precarious industries.”