Nearly 58,000 employees need income support

There are nearly 58,000 workers being subsidised by the State to the tune of €422m as their incomes are too low to survive on, according to figures from the Department of Social Protection.

During the Tesco strike, there were allegations that management in some Tesco stores had incorrectly warned staff that they would lose these family income supplements (FIS) entitlements because of their industrial action.

Tesco is Ireland’s largest private employer with 11,000 workers. It makes an estimated annual profit of €200m to €250m in this country, yet it’s understood that 10% of its staff receives family income supplement.