Once-off bank holiday ‘far too little’ says PBP’s Murphy

People Before Profit spokesperson on Employment Rights Paul Murphy TD has said talk of a once-off extra bank holiday “falls far short of what is necessary” and accused the government of “once again caving to corporate lobbying”.

Deputy Murphy reiterated People Before Profit’s proposal for three new permanent bank holidays, to raise the number of bank holidays to 12, in line with other EU countries.

The idea of introducing an extra bank holiday as a thank you to frontline workers has been discussed by the Government.

However, today’s Irish Independent reports that employer groups are resisting the move that the holiday would be a permanent fixture, and instead are lobbying that it would be a once-off day in 2022.

People Before Profit had previously put forward a Bill for three extra bank holidays to reward workers for their efforts they made during the Covid pandemic.

Deputy Murphy said: “The government’s attempts to whittle down the call for Ireland to move in line with the European norm and average levels of bank holidays shows that they do not wish to genuinely reward people and workers for the serious sacrifices that were made during the pandemic.

“We are calling on the government to legislate for three new bank holidays, in line with our Bill which we submitted in July.

“Increasing the number of public holidays should be part of an eco-socialist Green New Deal to improve work-life balance by moving to a four day week without loss in pay all year around.

“The government is very quick to hand out sweeping rhetoric about the sacrifices that people made during the pandemic, but when it really comes down to it, they are only interested in mere tokens.

“This signal from the government is a very bad omen for the campaign for a reduced working week.

“People Before Profit will continue to campaign and pressure the government to actually reward workers and people who sacrificed so much during the Covid crisis.”