Fórsa has won agreement that agency staff working in the HSE and voluntary hospitals will be paid their basic weekly salary and fixed allowances if they contract the virus or have coronavirus-related medical advice that they should self-isolate.

The move effectively brings the treatment of agency staff in line with that in place for directly-employed HSE staff for the period of the public health crisis.

Those who work less than the standard working week will be paid on the basis of their average normal hours in the eight-week period prior to their self-isolation or Covid-19 illness.

The payments will continue for the entire period of any Covid-related illness or self-isolation even if the agency workers’ period ends prior to that.

Any entitlement to State virus-related illness benefit will be deducted from any payments. HSE guidance says it’s up to the agency to inform their workers about State benefit entitlements.

Read the HSE circular HERE.