Employees will be able to take up to ten days of paid sick leave every year from 2026 following Cabinet approval of the Sick Leave Bill 2022
The decision means that Ireland will have a statutory sick pay scheme for the first time ever.
The scheme, which will be phased in over four years, will see people entitled to three days once the bill is enacted, rising to five days in 2024, seven days in 2025, before ten days in 2016. Employers will be required to pay 70% of an employee’s wage on a sick day with a cap of €110.
Currently, workers in Ireland can apply for Illness Benefit. However, it does not cover payment for the first three days of illness. To claim sick pay, an employee will have to produce a medical certificate and have worked for their employer for a minimum of 13 weeks. When entitlement to sick pay from their employer ends, employees who need more time may qualify for illness benefit, subject to their PRSI contributions.
It’s hoped that the new paid sick leave scheme will fill the gap and reduce the number of employees coming to work while sick.
In a statement, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar said Covid-19 highlighted the need for statutory sick pay.
“Ireland is one of the few advanced countries in Europe not to have a mandatory sick pay scheme and although many, we think approximately half of employers do provide sick pay, we need to make sure that security, that safety net, is there for all workers, regardless of their job.”
“I fully understand that many businesses are struggling at the moment with additional costs because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the aftermath of Covid and Brexit and the disruption both have brought. That is why we have chosen to phase this in, in this way. We have made a big effort to design the scheme so that it’s easy to use, fair and affordable for employers. We’ve done a lot of consultation on this, with representatives from both the employee and employer side and although I know some will think it goes too far and others that it doesn’t go far enough, I think it has struck a fair and reasonable balance.”
“The pandemic exposed the precarious position of many people, especially in the private sector and in low-paid roles when it comes to missing work due to illness. No one should feel pressured to come to work when they are ill because they can’t afford not to.”
