“Public health must not be compromised to satisfy Fine Gael’s ghoulish need to attack workers’ rights”

Workers are currently entitled to five paid sick days, and this was supposed to rise to seven days from this month, but the last government announced a postponement of the planned increase.  

Paid sick leave entitlement was also due to rise to 10 days from next year. 

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy says the planned increase must be “implemented immediately.”

“It is shameful that the last government postponed the planned increase in sick pay entitlement from five to seven days.

“Fine Gael even boasted about the postponement.

“But the damaging effects of the postponement on public health are now becoming apparent as flu cases surge.

“On Tuesday it was revealed that 758 people were in hospital with flu, and the number of cases in the community is more than 3,000.  

“Public health experts are clear in their view that paid sick leave reduces the spread of flu and they say that paid sick leave is one of the strongest public health measures available to stop the spread of infectious diseases.  

“Public health must not be compromised to satisfy Fine Gael’s ghoulish need to attack workers’ rights.

“Where do Fianna Fáil & Regional Independents who are negotiating with Fine Gael stand on this?  

“The planned increase in paid sick leave to seven days must be implemented immediately and the entitlement should be increased to at least 10 days as quickly as possible to protect public health.”