Labour well being and incapacity spokesperson Duncan Smith has described the continued delay in paying frontline staff a Covid-19 Pandemic Bonus Cost as “completely ludicrous.”
ccording to Deputy Smith, “tens of 1000’s” of healthcare staff who will not be instantly employed by the HSE are nonetheless ready on the once-off fee.
Deputy Smith mentioned: “Over two years after a bonus was first proposed by the Labour Get together, and over six months after it was agreed by Authorities, the truth that tens of 1000’s of healthcare staff, who will not be instantly employed by the HSE, are nonetheless ready to obtain a pandemic recognition fee is completely ludicrous at this stage.
“The delay is an enormous failure of management, and it’s disrespectful to our frontline healthcare staff who went above and past all through the pandemic.”
He added: “This fee was the very least that the federal government may do, however even this easy fee has turn into a catastrophe of mismanagement and turned a doubtlessly excellent news story into a nasty one.”
In accordance with Deputy Smith, the Covid-19 Pandemic Bonus Cost ought to have been an opportunity to point out staff that the political system “recognises, respects and values” the contribution of these on the frontline.
As an alternative, he mentioned, they’ve been met with “empty guarantees and excuse after excuse.”
The Dublin Fingal Labour TD mentioned: “It isn’t adequate for the Minister for Well being and the HSE to clean their arms of the 1000’s of Part 39 staff, cleaners, caterers, and safety workers who don’t work for the HSE or a recruitment company.
“They made an enormous contribution combatting the unfold of Covid and so they have to be eligible for this fee.
“The HSE has made it clear to unions from day one which the round that provides impact to the choice to pay non-HSE workers lies squarely with the Division of Well being and the Minister.”
Deputy Smith mentioned that the Authorities “conceal from their tasks”, the longer these staff can be “left excessive and dry throughout the worst value of dwelling disaster in our lifetime.”
He concluded: ”These staff made monumental private sacrifices. They risked their well being to maintain us protected. They really went above and past the decision of obligation and this must be recognised.”
