Hundreds of thousands of workers could lose out on #redundancy payments if their employment is terminated because time spent claiming #PUP won't count when calculating entitlements, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions @irishcongress warns. Urges govt to reform law.

#ICTU Patricia King: without reform, some employees could lose out on up to a year of #redundancy pay after been laid off on #PUP since last March due to the pandemic if job is ultimately terminated.

480,000 currently claiming #PUP (temporarily laid off but prospect of return to work after pandemic remains with link to employer) Normally after 4 wks layoff worker has right to demand a return to work, or to be made redundant so not left in limbo indefinitely.
#redundancy

Last March govt suspended this right under S 12 #redundancy Payments Act 1967 amid fears employers would face tsunami of lump sum claims, which would then fall to state if businesses couldn't pay. Suspension due to be lifted 31/3, but unions fear it may be extended. #PUP

Where workers are made permanently redundant, they're entitled to at least 2 wks pay per year of service (capped at E600 pw). #redundancy #PUP

In letter to Senior official in Dept of Enterprise Trade Employment on 5/10/2020 #ICTU Gen Sec Patricia King noted that at present, legislation does not provide for the inclusion of periods of layoff from work as "reckonable for service purposes." #redundancy #PUP

#ICTU King letter: "In the specific instance of Covid-19 where lay-offs have been imposed on workers with no recourse to Section 12 of the Act whereby they can claim redundancy payments it is clear that a double jeopardy has been created." #PUP

#ICTU King letter: "I would request that in such circumstances no worker should be penalized in relation to their reckonable service which have arisen in circumstances beyond their control," #redundancy #PUP

#ICTU King letter: claimed some employers who couldn't pay #redundancy were advising workers to continue claiming #PUP. "This is highly unsatisfactory and fails to take into account that these workers are entitled to move on and seek to develop future employment opportunities."

#ICTU King told @rtenews a massive tide of #redundancy has not yet materialised, because situation has "stagnated", with people still laid off on #PUP pending developments with the pandemic. Voiced concern re implications for thousands in businesses that may not survive.

#ICTU King: notes some #PUP claimants have been laid off consistently for almost a year, but may not be aware that that period would not count for #redundancy calculations if ultimately employment is terminated.

#ICTU King: the legislation providing the right to claim #redundancy after a four week period of layoff had been intended to avoid workers being left in limbo, and that it was never envisaged that they could be left in this position for almost a year. #PUP

#ICTU King: said matter or #redundancy #PUP calculations had been raised with the govt and at Labour Employer Economic Forum, but Congress was told Attorney General was considering the matter. Comment sought from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.