Fund must be Established to Pay Entitlements Above Statutory Redundancy
In a statement tonight People Before Profit called on the government to set up a fund to pay the redundancy entitlement of retail workers laid off during the Covid 19 crisis.
Bríd Smith TD said: “It is shocking that 490 Aracadia workers have been permanently laid off today and will only be paid statutory redundancy. I expect more workers to face a similar fate in the next few weeks.
“Like the Debenhams workers these workers have a collective agreement providing for enhanced redundancy payments of four weeks per year of service, inclusive of statutory redundancy. Like the Debenhams workers they should be paid their 2 plus 2.
“In these extraordinary times the government has taken extraordinary measure to support businesses, some of whom remain profitable. I am now calling for a fund to established to pay these workers what they are due.
“I note that in early January, Fianna Fáil finance spokesperson Willie O’Dea said that the prospect of setting up a supplementary welfare fund specifically to cover redundancy shortfalls should now be explored by government. Its time now to set up this fund.
“The Debenhams workers were recently offered €3m training fund. In the context of the crises facing retail workers this an insult. The workers should be paid their 2 plus 2 and the €3m should be used as a down payment on their entitlements.”
