The government of Ireland has relaxed application requirements for people to claim statutory sickness benefits in a bid to encourage people who fell ill to self-isolate.
Working individuals, including those working in the gig economy will be given a temporary income and incentives as a measure of making them stay at home if they have symptoms of the virus.
The government has also removed the six day waiting period to claim illness benefits to those that have been advised by the health services to self-isolate. This however is to ensure that people have all their necessities during the lockdown period.
Once a coronavirus diagnosis has been confirmed, claimant will receive a 50% increase in their payments and this applies for two weeks. Employers are also being urged to continue paying their workers on self-isolation
However, seemingly in the UK changes have been made to the rules surrounding statutory sick pay (SSP). Infected workers can now claim their SSP on the first day of being absent from work and there is no waiting period or any doctors note to apply for the SSP.
Freelancers and workers affected by the virus and cannot apply for the SSP will be provided funds for by the government.
“Ireland and Denmark move to give workers paid sick leave #COVID19. Other governments must follow their lead and protect the health and the income of workers and their families,” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation
