asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether casual domestic servants are obliged to pay the full rate of social insurance contributions and yet are debarred from drawing unemployment benefit; and, if so, whether he will amend the relevant regulation forthwith so that this injustice may be remedied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Casual Domestic Servants.
33.
Prior to the 1st May all employment of a casual nature otherwise than for the purposes of the employer's trade or business and otherwise than for the purpose of any game or recreation where the persons employed are engaged or paid through a club, was excepted from social insurance. Since that date, however, such employment, if it is for the purposes of any work in or about the residence of the employer, is insurable but for occupational injuries benefit only.
Ordinary rate employment contributions, containing normal cover against unemployment, are payable in respect of female domestic servants employed in hotels and institutions and also in respect of male domestic servants wherever employed.
Special rate contributions, value two shillings less than the ordinary rate for women, are payable in respect of female domestics employed in private service. Prior to the 31st October, 1966, this class had no cover against unemployment. Since then, the lower rate of contribution applicable to them has included a specially reduced unemployment insurance element calculated to give title to unemployment benefit subject to satisfaction of a special additional condition related to the age and employment history of the claimant. The position, therefore, in relation to females employed in private domestic service is that they are not debarred from unemployment benefit although they pay less than the full rate of contribution.
Could the Minister say why all these qualifications are necessary and why it is made so difficult for such people to get unemployment assistance?
It is not really difficult. This is an innovation with regard to female domestics. My predecessor had in mind a lady of advanced years being displaced after long-term employment. The whole scheme is slanted towards that type of person. It is not so much related to the short-term domestic employee who trips in and out of work every few weeks.