Deputy Leader of Fianna Fail in the Seanad Senator Fiona O’Loughlin welcomed the Sick Leave Bill 2022 to the Senate.
Senator O’Loughlin said, “This Bill will give all workers the right to paid sick leave for the first time in Ireland. This is something that I firmly support, and something that is long overdue. Workers and their families deserve and need access to a level of paid sick leave, it is a fundamental worker right in my view, and I am pleased to see Fianna Fail deliver this provision.”
“This bill seeks to advance the cause and to try and equalise entitlements in terms of sick leave. No one should ever feel pressured to come to work when they are unwell because they can’t afford not to.”
“There is a significant gap between public sector workers of whom almost all get sick pay and private sector workers where coverage is much less. Equalisation in terms and conditions must be a priority.”
“This Bill is simply to support the rights and conditions of workers, and I know from my dealings with many small business owners in South Kildare, that the response is positive. They want to support their staff.”
Fiona concluded “We have to look at the impact of this on small businesses, especially small independent operators. We absolutely need to ensure that this does not disproportionately impact small businesses.”
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