Vol. 430 No. 4
101 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the basic rights of women who work for contract cleaners with particular reference to insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Female employees who work for contract cleaners are covered for social insurance purposes in the same way as all other employees. Prior to April, 1991, a considerable number of part-time employees would have been covered for occupational injuries benefits purposes only under PRSI Class J, by virtue of the fact that they would have worked fewer than 18 hours per week.
In April 1991, I introduced new regulations covering part-time employment. They provide full social insurance cover (PRSI Class A) to all workers, earning £25 or more per week, irrespective of the number of hours worked. The importance of this change is that such employees now have entitlement to the full range of social insurance benefits and pensions. Those earning under £25 a week are only covered for occupational injuries benefits.
