Representatives of community employment (CE) supervisors met yesterday to discuss new Government proposals for a resolution to their longstanding dispute over the lack of pension provision for CE staff.

The proposed new Media Commission, which will take on responsibilities now held by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, is expected to have as many staff as the office of the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC).

The Recover Irish Aviation campaign has issued a video calling on the Government to begin a phased re-opening of air travel starting in the late spring.

New official forecasts predict a strong post-Covid economic bounce in Ireland, with growth of 4.5% per cent this year and 5% in 2022.

Ireland’s national minimum wage could be replaced by a superior ‘living wage’ once the Low Pay Commission produces a report on the issue later this year. A living wage, defined as the minimum necessary for a single full-time worker to meet their basic needs, is currently estimated at €12.30 an hour. That’s 20% more than the current statutory minimum wage of €10.20.

Fórsa president Michael Smyth is organising a mental health webinar for members, which will focus on building resilience. The one-hour virtual event takes place at 7.00pm on Thursday 6th May.

Discussions aimed at agreeing an ‘action plan’ that encompasses reforms in non-commercial State sector organisations are expected to be completed within the next two weeks. 

Almost 90% of workers aged over 55 believe they suffered age discrimination when looking for jobs. More than a third of respondents to a new survey also said employers considered them too old for sectors such as IT.

Ireland’s minimum wage workers are likely to have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic compared to their European counterparts, according to new Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) research.

The issue of period poverty is back in the headlines after supermarket chain Lidl this week announced it is to make period products free in its stores across the country.