Fórsa has backed calls for a system of Covid-19 testing of airline passengers as part of a suite of measures to safely assist the aviation sector and the thousands of workers – including in tourism – that depend on it.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has received a budget boost of €4 million as part of Budget 2021, bringing the authority’s annual funding grant to €24.5 million, the highest level of State funding since 2008.

Aer Lingus has confirmed it will use finds provided under the Taxpayer-funded Employer Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) to increase rostered hours and wages.

Fórsa and other public service unions have warned that the time available to negotiate and ratify a new public service pay agreement is running short.

Fórsa has raised concerns that more workers than necessary are being required to attend workplaces since the entire country entered level five of the Government’s Covid-19 framework two weeks ago.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has renewed calls for legislation to oblige employers to pay remote workers an allowance to cover some of the costs of working from home. ICTU also wants a review of the current €3.20-a-day rate that workers can receive tax-free.

Fórsa’s delayed 2020 national delegate conference is set to take place on a fully remote basis on 19^th November. Originally planned for last May, the event was interrupted by Covid-related public health restrictions on travel and assembly