Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today the Government is cutting the rate of payment available to employers under the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. It will be cut by a quarter for workers whose weekly wage is below €203 and by 40% for other workers. This is a one size fits all cut. We know that the recent public health restrictions are affecting certain sectors more than others. The public guidance is to work from home and reduce social contacts. Thankfully people are responding to that public health guidance. The impact of it is being felt particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors. We can see the images on social media from this city and elsewhere of empty restaurants and all the rest, yet these supports are being cut as of today. In the case of jobs in the context of such high rates, December is what is needed to carry the hospitality sector through in January and February. Will the Government not suspend the reduction in these supports until the end of the year?

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