The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has warned that some elements of proposed new pay-related welfare benefits could weaken income protections for low-wage and part-time workers.
Last December, the Government published draft proposals for the introduction of a new pay-related jobseeker benefit payment.
The plan would link a person's jobseeker's payment to their previous earnings and work history and is designed to soften the income shock that a person may face if they suddenly lose their job.
The Government has launched a public consultation process on the proposals and in its response, ICTU said it strongly supported moving from flat-rate to pay-related benefit payments for workers.
ICTU President Kevin Callinan said income protection for workers is exceptionally weak in Ireland compared to the rest of the EU.
"Despite workers paying pay-related social insurance contributions when in employment, they only receive a flat weekly payment if they lose their job, fall sick, or have a baby," Mr Callinan said.
"In almost all other 27 member states, workers receive a percentage of their previous pay to protect them against a fall in living standards during short gaps in employment.
"Post-pandemic there is now a heightened public demand to strengthen our frayed social safety net. This cannot and should not be ignored."
ICTU says that jobseeker’s benefit only replaces one quarter of the average wage and just half of the minimum wage.
"The same workers have 91% of their wages replaced by pay-related unemployment benefits in Belgium, 79% in Denmark, and 69% in the Netherlands," said ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy
"ICTU is very concerned some proposals under consideration, if not amended, will disproportionally and significantly weaken the existing income protection of low-wage part-time workers and workers with caring responsibilities, the majority of whom are women."
