SIPTU has condemned the failure of the Government to honour its commitment on increasing the number of days of entitlement to Statutory Occupational Sick Pay from five to seven, which would bring Ireland closer in line with the far superior benefits available in other EU member states.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “The decision by the Government to further pause the increase in Statutory Occupational Sick Pay from five days to seven days is unacceptable and an attack on workers’ rights.
“The Occupational Sick Pay Act 2022, provided for an increase to seven days from 1st January 2025. For the second time the Government has refused to implement the entitlements contained within its own legislation.
“As this recently implemented occupational sick pay provision is well below the sick pay benefits that prevails throughout most of the EU, to pause its sequential increase as provided for in the 2022 legislation is merely a sop to employers and a kick in the teeth for workers. These workers are already struggling in many cases, with the ongoing cost of living crisis and the impact of the current economic volatility caused by the Trump Administration’s tariffs programme.
“Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development shows that the initiation and limited advancement of occupational sick pay in Ireland since 2023, has had little impact on employers in terms of additional costs. It has not affected previous levels of attendance within the workplace and 65% of employers say they experienced no or little impact with the increase from three to five sick leave days.”
He added: “The Government must review its decision not to implement the increase from five to seven days and should live up to its election commitments rather than backtrack on them.”