The Department of Agrculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has committed to examining the issue of annual leave anomalies between the grades of Senior Laboratory Analysts and Laboratory Analyst, following Fórsa representations at the Department of Agriculture Departmental Council.

Fórsa official Des Fagan explained that a new annual leave Circular has been published that comprehensively lays out the rationale for the levels of leave afforded to all civil servants and professional and technical grades.

“This may be helpful in relation to the Agrilabs annual leave issues raised with DAFM,” he said.

Des explained that one of the main items in the Circular is the elimination of the three-year carryover of leave cycle. It states that all of the statutory annual leave i.e., 20 days must be taken in year one and the balance of leave left can be carried into year two.

“Carryover of annual leave was badly affected during the Covid pandemic, and the new system allows for carryover of one year’s leave from year one into year two,” he said.

Des warned that if the leave is not used in year two however it is forfeit.

“Cue the mass taking of annual leave once the Circular becomes known to staff, a measure that will already affect those Departments that cannot attract new staff,” he said. The Circular can be viewed here.