Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 32, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “Layoffs and short-time

7. If and for so long as—

(a) an employer is the beneficiary of the wage subsidy scheme or of special warehousing and interest provisions under the Act of 2020 as amended by this Act, and

(b) one or more employees of the employer have been laid off or placed on short-time due to the effects of measures required to be taken by his or her employer in order to comply with, or as a consequence of, Government policy to prevent, limit, minimise or slow the spread of infection of Covid-19,

then new employees may be hired by the employer only—

(i) to positions in the workforce where such layoffs or short-time have not occurred, and

(ii) where the vacancy cannot be filled by one of the employer’s employees on short-time work.”.

I will not detain the Minister or the House. I appreciate that time is of the essence. This amendment is designed to prevent situations in which full-time workers are made vulnerable to displacement because it may be more financially attractive for employers to take on a number of short-time staff under the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, and to receive that State subsidy. I do not believe anyone would like that outcome. This amendment is designed to protect workers against that. I am interested to hear the Minister's view on it.

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