Labour is calling for the likes of bin collectors and supermarket workers to get the pandemic bonus.
Healthcare workers who've been on the front line during Covid will get a €1,000 bonus.
The announcement came yesterday by Cabinet, where they also confirmed a new public holiday for March 18th of this year.
The tax-free bonus is available to healthcare workers if they worked in Covid exposed clinical settings.
It won't be restricted to clinical staff and will apply to the likes of porters and attendants in hospitals.
Nursing students, defence forces staff seconded to the HSE and private staff in hospices and nursing homes will also qualify for the payment.
Around 100,000 people will benefit at a cost to the state in the region of 100 million euro.
However, carers, pharmacists and retail workers won't be eligible under the government scheme.
Labour's employment spokesperson, Marie Sherlock, says that should be addressed:
"I think there is a question here with regards to the bin collectors, those working in meat factories, those who are home care assistants and those working in our grocery shops. What recognition do we have for those workers who had to go out and work during the pandemic? Who had to go out in order to keep us safe at home."
The pandemic has tested the mental health of the nation but all the more for those already challenged, so whatever much deserved bonus or benefit is announced for those in healthcare it’s vital that carers of the intellectually challenged are very much included @CatholicNewsIRL pic.twitter.com/5ZlDAGpzsp
— Bishop Denis Nulty (@BishopDNulty) January 20, 2022
Meanwhile, the Public Expenditure Minister says it would be "incredibly difficult where to draw the line" if the pandemic bonus is extended beyond frontline healthcare workers.
Michael McGrath says the cost of the scheme would "spiral" if the likes of GPs, pharmacists and retail workers were eligible for the 1 thousand euro payment.
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
