Public expenditure minister Michael McGrath has told his officials to engage with unions after unions triggered the review clause of the Building Momentum public service agreement. The two sides are expected to meet for an initial engagement next week.

Fórsa has welcomed this week’s Cabinet decision to approve the establishment of six HSE regional health areas, which the union says is an essential step towards improved community health services that will ease pressures on acute hospitals.

Fórsa and HSE management met this week following a recent High Court ruling that the HSE’s assessment of needs process for children with disabilities did not comply with disability legislation. 

Fórsa members at the Oberstown campus in North County Dublin have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a Workplace Relations Commission-brokered agreement, which will permit retirement at age 55 for residential social care workers.

Fórsa has sought immediate discussions aimed at reaching agreement an agreed ‘blended work’ framework for the health and welfare sector. It comes after the union agreed a deal that gives all civil servants the right to apply for remote or blended working.

Fórsa has called on the health minister to make good on his commitment to appoint a specialist adviser on health and social care professionals (HSCPs)

The Government has outlined details of a new auto-enrolment occupational pension scheme targeted at workers who don’t currently have any pension provision other than the State pension.

It will now become mandatory for all employers to provide sick pay to employees under new laws signed off by the Cabinet last week. The Sick Leave Bill 2022 will introduce a statutory sick pay scheme for all employees phased in over four years.

The professional body for human resource professionals has urged employers to consider whether their staff should continue working from home.