asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce legislation to amend the Social Welfare Act so that those who are employed as domestic servants in hotels and elsewhere during the tourist season will not find themselves without any allowance during the winter months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amendment of Social Welfare Act.
109.
Under the scheme of social insurance established by the Social Welfare Acts, males employed as domestic servants, whether in hotels or elsewhere, are insured for all benefits including unemployment benefit. As regards female domestic servants, the position is that the scheme distinguishes between those who are engaged in private service and those who are employed otherwise, for example, in hotels and institutions. The latter, as in the case of males, are insured for all benefits including unemployment benefit.
Women employed in private domestic service, however, are not insured for unemployment benefit and they pay a reduced rate of contribution. The question of extending insurance for unemployment benefit to these women is under examination in my Department at present.
Question No. 110 postponed.