As part of its suite of responses to the COVID-19 situation, the Government introduced new temporary measures to provide financial support to workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis including the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It offers a payment to employees and to the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An application in respect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be made both by employees who have lost their job, been temporarily laid off, asked to stay at home, or are not getting any money from an employer; and the self-employed who have temporarily ceased trading due to the pandemic.
The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme is predicated on the employer wanting to keep employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picks up by enabling employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system. The scheme is expected to last 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 and will cover 70% of the net salary of workers, up to a maximum of €410 per week.
These two schemes are in addition to the normal state supports that remain in place.
There is nothing in the legislation excluding the independent film and television sector from within the remit of either scheme. My Department is aware that many workers from the sector have successfully obtained the PUP and officials will continue to engage on the matter.
