Pay for workers who self-isolate to be examined by Government officials

Government officials are to examine the possibility of making financial assistance available to private sector workers affected by the coronavirus.

The Government on Thursday announced State employees affected would receive special leave with pay but talks between unions and employers on Friday examined what could be done for private sector workers.

Unions have warned that some private sector workers without contractual provision for sick leave may not be able to afford to self isolate.

On Friday morning Government officials met with representatives of the trade union movement and employers’ groups. Patricia King the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said: “Officials are gone off to consider if they can build a proposal that they can put to us over the coming hours or days

“Everyone is if they view that all workers should be enabled to self isolate”, she said .

“We are to consider what the options are and see if we can build a solution. “

“We will reconvene either later today or over weekend. Everybody understands the issue has to de dealt with .”

Maeve McElwee of the employers’ group Ibec said everyone saw the urgency of the matter. She said the talk on Friday morning had been positive with lots of suggestions.

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