Labour has accused the Minister for Social and Family Affairs of introducing "another sneaky cut" in holiday pay entitlements that would affect school traffic wardens, or "lollipop ladies", and people in seasonal, term or limited contract employment.
The party's spokesman, Mr Willie Penrose, said it would be added to the "savage 16 cuts" already faced by those on unemployment benefit and social assistance, not least widows. He questioned the Minister, Ms Coughlan, about her decision not to pay unemployment benefit for any period in which people such as school wardens were laid off, including Easter, Christmas and the summer. The Minister said legislation allowed for the payment of unemployment for days of unemployment. "Unemployment benefit is not paid in respect of any day for which there is an entitlement to holiday pay." In relation to people in temporary, school-related employment, "full details of holiday pay entitlement" had to be provided to determine what entitlement existed.
Mr Penrose said some local authorities had agreed with school wardens that "accumulated holiday pay for three weeks a year would be paid in full in June when the school years ends". The Minister said if wardens were paid holiday pay they would not be entitled to unemployment benefit.
