ICTU concerned over flu’s impact on employment

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions has demanded the Government put in place measures to protect the livelihoods of workers if the swine flu virus spreads to the levels expected.

The umbrella union body has written to the Ministers of Health, Labour Affairs and Social and Family Affairs expressing concern about the impact of swine flu on employment and incomes particularly at a time when the economy is already in a recession. It has also put forward a number of measures which it believes must be implemented to protect those who contract the illness.

The main elements of ICTU’s (H1N1) Influenza A Virus Leave of Absence Scheme are:

* Where workers are absent for reasons related to the swine flu virus they are protected from dismissal, selection for redundancy, or other “detrimental treatment” regardless of how long they have worked in the company.

* Workers on swine flu leave should have income protected and absences should qualify for payment from the first day of leave.

* Workers should be entitled to take paid swine flu leave (even if they are not sick) in circumstances where they are advised to remain out of work as a precaution because a member of their household is infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus. They should also be entitled to leave if they are not able to go to work due to a quarantine precaution.

* Absence on swine flu leave should not be counted against or reduce annual sick leave entitlements as stipulated in the terms and conditions of employment.

Finally it proposes that workers should be entitled to an additional five days paid Force Majeure emergency leave to take care of children and dependent relatives who have been infected.

ICTU policy officer Esther Lynch said: “From the warnings it seems increasingly likely that this flu strain will have a significant impact on the business and workplace environment. Projected absences range from 15% to 40% depending on just how virulent the virus will be and on other factors such as school closures and public transport.

“We have requested that the Government agencies would regularly brief employer and trade union bodies on the virus including its transmission, disease outcome, prevention and treatment options.

We have also outlined to Government that it is necessary for them to take action to ensure that workers have the necessary rights and entitlements, that if the situation becomes serious, workers will be able to follow the advice and guidance coming from the Department of Health without fear of losing their jobs or income. Workers who may be infected need to be confident that their employer will support them when they follow the advice from the Department of Health, especially if this advice is to stay home.”

She said ICTU was appealing to employers to exercise flexibility and compassion in granting leave with pay to workers suspected or already infected.

“However, it’s clear that if workers fear losing their jobs because they take time off, then they will turn up at work no matter how sick they are, crucially in the early and most infectious stages,” she said.