The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, announced details of the new statutory sick pay scheme which will provide all employees with the right to paid sick leave. While the Bill is not yet available, the Minister has indicated that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be phased in over 4 years, with employees being entitled to:

•         A maximum of 3 days SSP in 2022,

•         A maximum of 5 days SSP in 2023,

•         A maximum of 7 days SSP in 2024, and

•         A maximum of 10 days SSP in 2025.

SSP will be payable at 70% of an employee’s pay subject to a maximum daily rate of €110 (which may be changed by ministerial order in line with inflation). Employees will have to provide a medical certificate to avail of SSP and they must have been employed by their employer for a minimum of 6 months.