Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Louise O’Reilly TD, has criticised the government’s ‘chaotic and inconsistent’ approach to planned increases in sick leave entitlements for workers.

Speaking in the Dáil last night, Teachta O’Reilly warned that workers need to see a genuine and tangible strengthening of their rights, rather than rhetoric that fails to materialise.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“Paid sick leave is an important component of workers’ rights. Following intense lobbying by the trade union movement, Sinn Féin and other advocates the government finally stopped dragging their heels and introduced a paid sick leave scheme. The long overdue scheme provides for five days’ paid sick leave and this was due to rise to seven days in January.

“However, following the publication of the recent Budget, Fine Gael shamefully trumpeted that they were going to cancel the planned increase due in January. This has understandably caused considerable alarm for workers and all advocates for workers’ rights.

“Junior Minister at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dara Calleary, said that no decision has been taken and that the issue of sick leave is to be the subject of a review. This blatantly contradicts what Fine Gael have stated.

“The government’s chaotic and inconsistent claims are causing considerable confusion and alarm on this important issue. Sick leave is an important instrument of public health, and Fine Gael should be ashamed of themselves for using it as a pre-election gimmick in this way.

“Workers and businesses need certainty about these entitlements and this chaos is not fair for either group. They deserve more than being treated as a political football by this government.

“It’s clear that only a change of government will deliver the certainty that workers need. A Sinn Féin government will stand up for workers and ensure that their rights are strengthened.”