Fórsa has won confirmation that civil and public service employers must abide by an agreed protocol governing the safety of staff returning to workplaces as coronavirus restrictions ease.

Fórsa national officials have called on the union’s members to continue to observe measures aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus, as the first relaxation of restrictions were introduced this week.

The Covid-19 crisis has had a worse effect on women’s lives than men’s, according to data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) this week.

Nothing’s yet agreed, but European leaders are discussing proposals to raise between €500 billion and €1 trillion to help European states and regions hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Jacinda Ardern has become the first world leader to endorse the idea of a four-day working week, saying flexible working options could boost post-Covid economic recovery while helping workers to manage their work-life balance.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called on the Government to close a loophole that’s left women out of work because their employers can’t access coronavirus-related income supports when new mums return from maternity leave.