Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020
94. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if he will include those on TWSS and EWSS for eligibility for the Christmas bonus available to those on the pandemic unemployment payment; if not, the reason for exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34216/20]
View answerThe Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), which was provided for in section 28 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020, expired on 31 August 2020. The TWSS has been replaced by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which was legislated for in the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020.
The design of the EWSS reflects the changing environment around the COVID-19 pandemic which has shifted from crisis mode to one of living alongside the virus, in line with the recently announced Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. The Government’s focus has therefore shifted from an employee income support paid via the employer that maintained the existing employee/employer relationship insofar as was possible, to a direct employer subsidy to help support viable firms and encourage employment, including prospective employment of new hires and seasonal workers.
As the EWSS is not an income support, there is no basis to include those on the EWSS for eligibility for the “Christmas bonus”.
The question of an individual’s entitlements in an employment context, and the question of what wages an employer may or may not be in a position to pay such an employee in light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the employer’s business, are matters that were outside the remit of the EWSS and the scheme has no role in relation to the employer/employee relationship in so far as the terms, conditions and entitlements of the employment are concerned.
