Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, has provided an update on developments regarding her Department’s employer refund scheme which allows the employer to pay the worker €203 and receive a refund from the State in the circumstances where the employer has ceased trading and as a result of financial difficulty have to temporarily lay off staff.
The Minister announced:
“I am pleased to be able to say that after working with the Department of Enterprise, Business and Innovation and the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform we are agreed that employers engaged with the scheme should be allowed to top up the payment by the State. The details are now being finalised and will be announced early next week.
“This will further strengthen the viability of the scheme and ensure that many employers can provide some additional income above the basic social welfare payment for their workers.
“The Coronavirus outbreak is presenting unprecedented challenges to society and to state agencies but we are determined to meet each challenge with effective solutions and speed as much as we can and I am delighted that, in this regard, we have been able to address this issue.”
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD said:
“Every business in Ireland is of value to our economy and we will support them all in tackling the challenges they currently face. There are also some firms that are especially important right now and we will ensure that everything is done to protect and sustain their operations. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, together with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the other state agencies, will also continue to support companies in every way they can.
“I especially welcome the response from Minister Doherty on the Covid-19 Employer Refund Scheme, which will be a great relief to those employers who are so supportive of their employees in these difficult and challenging times.”