From the 1st of January 2024, statutory sick leave will increase from three days to five days per year.

The increase is part of a larger change that will see the number of statutory sick days increased every year, until 2026, when it will amount to ten days per year.

Most Fórsa members are already covered by the public service sick pay scheme, while the new scheme will see many Fórsa members working in the private sector afforded greater protection.

The scheme is the result of a campaign launched by ICTU in 2020. ICTU started the campaign in reaction to the outbreak of Covid-19 clusters in meat-processing plants among low-paid workers. These outbreaks underlined the absence of a statutory right to sick leave.

Ahead of the increase to five days of sick leave, the Department of Enterprise’s Employment Rights Policy Unit has produced a short FAQ document to ensure clarity around the increase, and the effect it will have on applications for Contributory Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection.

The unit, in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection has also made information available using plain english and is available HERE.

The FAQ answers important questions as to the functioning of statutory sick leave. It includes details such as:

• The increase to five days is a minimum. Employers who wish to offer more favourable conditions, will be unaffected by the Statutory Sick Scheme.
• If an employee has not completed 13 weeks of service with their current employer, they will not be entitled to statutory sick leave, but will qualify for illness benefit.
• A valid medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner will be required to qualify for sick leave.
• Unused sick days will not be able to be carried over into the following year.

Full document: Sick Pay FAQs on Increase to 5 Days is available here.

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