Fine Gael Oireachtas members have taken to tweeting to voice their opposition to plans by Labour's Joan Burton that employers will have to pay the first four weeks of staff’s sick pay.
Ms Burton, Minister for Social Protection, believes €150 million could be saved in 2013 if the cost of the first month of an employee’s sick pay was transferred from the State to employers.
However, the chairman of Fine Gael’s parliamentary party, Charlie Flanagan, this morning tweeted: “Joan Burton’s suggestion that Employers pay first 4 weeks sick benefit not a good idea.”
Mr Flanagan also used his Twitter account to reveal that he had spoken to his party colleague Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise with responsibility for small business, John Perry, about the matter. “I’ve spoken to Minister John Perry who is Minister for Small Business. I told him ‘not a good idea’!” Mr Flanagan tweeted.
Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames said Ms Burton’s proposal would not be good for the jobs market.
“Joan Burton's proposal to make employers pay 4 employees sick leave. Biting off hand that feeds us Kills jobs,” Ms Healy-Eames tweeted.
Both the Fine Gael and Labour parties have parliamentary party meetings tonight, at which the issue is expected to be raised.
Business groups have also heavily criticised Ms Burton’s plans. She is expected to face further opposition from employers after it emerged she has proposed at Cabinet that employers’ rebate on redundancy payments will be reduced from 60 to 30 per cent.
Ms Burton believes this could take another €50 million off her departmental budget. She has to make approximately €700 million in cuts in next month’s budget.
Employers may currently obtain a rebate of 60 per cent of statutory redundancy payments through the Department of Social Protection.
