Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2004
85 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering introducing employment rights legislation in respect of sick pay and sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28314/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no statutory requirement on employers to pay employees who are absent due to illness except, however, under the sick pay provisions in various employment regulation orders of the Labour Court for certain sectors of employment as follows: aerated waters and wholesale bottling; agricultural workers; catering; contract cleaning; hairdressing — Dublin; law clerks; provender milling; and retail grocery and allied trades.
Disability benefit is paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to socially insured persons who are unable to work due to illness and who meet the contribution conditions. Disability benefit is not normally paid for the first three days of illness, known as waiting days, but is payable for up to 52 weeks if the insured person has between 52 and 259 paid contributions; and up until the age of 66 if a person has a total of 260 weeks or more paid contributions since entering employment. There are no proposals at present to change the current situation or to bring forward legislative proposals to require employers to have occupational sick pay or sick leave schemes.
