Written answers

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Employment Rights

Photo of Pat GallagherPat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the proposals she will bring forward to solve the problems and issues surrounding seasonal and part-time workers' rights in seasonal employment in particular the fishing industry, farming and the hospitality sector; the timeframe in which she plans to deal with these issues in view of the fact that the current anomalies are causing considerable financial strain on many workers throughout the country; if proposals to address these issues in budget 2019 are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26537/18]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To qualify for a jobseekers payment a person must be unemployed, be available for and genuinely seeking work, and as a result be unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7. Seasonal work can be full-time, part-time or casual. A seasonal worker who is employed on a full-time basis is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment while in that employment. Contributions paid during this time can be used to requalify for jobseeker’s benefit subject to scheme conditionality. Where a person exhausts entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit, they must pay 13 additional PRSI contributions after the last day of payment in order to requalify. If a seasonal or a part-time worker meets this requirement they may requalify. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits can assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes such as jobseeker’s benefit and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes.

Seasonal and part-time workers who have paid or credited contributions in either of the last two complete income tax years are awarded credits. Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI.

The jobseeker’s schemes can provide significant support to individuals who work part-time. Where a person does not re-qualify or have used up their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit they can apply for jobseeker’s allowance. For instance, an individual can earn a little over €20,190 per year and still retain a small jobseeker's allowance payment, while the equivalent threshold for an individual with a qualified adult is almost €34,700 if they are both working.

My Department operates a fast-tracking system for customers who sign-off on their jobseeker’s claim to take up work or a training course for a period of up to 12 weeks. In these cases, the claim is not closed but payment is suspended temporarily for the duration of the work or training course. When the person signs on again the claim can be reactivated without delay and payment restored.

Any changes to the jobseeker’s schemes would have to be considered in the context of Budget 2019 subject to the overall budgetary context. It is important in the interests of equity and fairness that any changes to the conditions for receipt of a jobseekers payment would apply to all recipients, including those who could be categorised as seasonal and part-time workers.

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