Unions welcomed the 12-month extension for those on the Long Covid Scheme, but many frontline and essential workers will still be arbitrarily excluded leaving them facing significant financial difficulties. 

Long Covid is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms after a Covid infection. On June 25th 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) reconvened a conciliation conference to address ongoing problems brought by the staff panel representing CONNECT, Fórsa, IMO, INMO, MLSA, SIPTU, and UNITE. This meeting marked a crucial step in a prolonged effort to secure proper support for healthcare workers affected by long covid. 

The group of unions is seeking a scheme analogous to others that exist in the health service.   

Fórsa national secretary Ashley Connolly said: “The Department of Health told us that they were only prepared to offer an extension of the Special Leave with Pay Scheme for those currently on the scheme and were not in a position to extend these arrangements”. 

Ashley welcomed the extension saying that it would provide much-needed stability and peace of mind for affected workers.  

She said: “This is far better than the constant rigmarole of three-month extensions we were dealing with and means people won’t be left facing an immediate financial cliff edge. Our members have already endured significant uncertainty, and many have debilitating health conditions due to their sacrifices on the front lines during the height of the pandemic. We all remember the rhetoric of the “essential” workers, well it’s now essential that they are looked after with dignity and respect.” 

Long Covid was ruled out by the Department of Social Protection as an illness eligible for occupational injury benefit in a report published by the department in November, 2023. Despite a recommendation from the European Commission, Ireland and Greece remain the only two EU member states that have not recognized Covid-19 as an occupational disease in sectors where the risk of infection has been proven. 

“We all want to leave pandemic is in the rear-view window but the reality for many of our members is that it continues, with Long Covid remaining an unresolved crisis that the country has yet to address. We’re an outlier in Europe on the crisis. Affected workers have been left in uncertainty. It's crucial to recognize that the standard sick leave scheme inadequately supports these workers, with their pay reduced to 50% after three months and potentially facing further challenges thereafter.” 

"There is still no resolution for healthcare workers currently excluded from the scheme due to arbitrary cut off dates. The Department of Health cannot let this issue drag on and they must engage with the trade unions to establish a scheme for Long Covid for these workers." Ashley concluded.