asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will explain why persons in domestic employment are not eligible for unemployment benefit even though these persons are subject to compulsory insurance under the Social Welfare Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Employment Insurance.
81.
The scheme of social insurance under the Social Welfare Acts distinguishes between female domestic servants who are engaged in private service and those who are employed otherwise, for example, in hotels and institutions. The latter are insured for all benefits under the Acts, including unemployment benefit. Women employed in private domestic service, however, pay a reduced rate of contribution and are not insured for unemployment benefit. The primary reasons for the exclusion of these women from unemployment benefit cover were the desire to avoid charging them the full contribution and the small incidence of genuine unemployment which exists, generally speaking, among this class of worker. Male domestic servants are insured for all benefits.
The question of extending insurance for unemployment benefit to female private domestic servants is at present under examination in my Department.
Does the Minister agree that the whole reason for not having the full stamp paid is not the saving of the few pence involved but, in fact, to ensure that domestic servants will have to seek work whether suitable or otherwise? The same applied to farm workers until the Minister changed it a few years ago.
I do not agree, but there should probably be some modified provision of unemployment benefit in the case of this type of employment.