Fórsa and the HSE will return to the Workplace Relations Commission early next month after a hearing yesterday (23^rd July) failed to reach agreement on financial supports for essential health workers who lost access to childcare provision following the closure of schools and creches in March.

Health staff who “gave their all” in response to the Covid-19 pandemic are experiencing burnout, which could restrict the HSE’s ability to deal with a second wave of the virus, according to Fórsa.

Fórsa is insisting that flexitime be reinstated for civil and public servants who have returned to workplaces following the Covid-19 emergency and are now back on their normal hours and work patterns.

Fórsa has given a guarded welcome to yesterday’s announcement of the largest ever Government-funded stimulus package, which will see over €7 billion pumped into the economy – mostly in the short-term – through supports to businesses and incomes.

New official guidance has clarified that civil and public servants who return from non-essential overseas travel must take annual leave or unpaid leave to cover the subsequent quarantine period.

Workers at the Caritas convalescent centre in south Dublin are fighting for decent redundancy payments after their service went into liquidation. The ‘section 39’ agency had previously followed public service pay and conditions, and Fórsa is insisting that the staff receive public service redundancy terms.

More than 3,000 health workers in 79 countries have lost their lives due to Covid-19 according to Amnesty International, which conceded that the real figure is likely to be higher because of significant under-reporting.