PBP express grave disappointment that as new wage subsidy scheme commences, Government fails to provide income subsidy to tens of thousands of workers and sole traders in industries particularly devastated by public health measures
Taxi drivers, workers in arts, music and entertainment must get step-down income subsidy until their industries and incomes recover.
In a statement, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, for People Before Profit said that on the day the new government Covid-19 Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme commences, that it was “deeply disappointing and unfair that there was no announcement about providing an income subsidy to tens of thousands of workers from industries particularly devastated by the impact of public health restrictions, particularly taxi driver and workers in music, arts and live entertainment.”
Deputy Boyd Barrett has repeatedly raised the plight of taxi drivers and workers in arts, music and live entertainment since the pandemic began and public health restrictions devastated the incomes and work available to those working in these sectors.
Deputy Boyd Barrett succeeded in getting these affected groups in before the special Covid committee prior to the summer recess but expressed serious disappointment that to date the government had failed to deliver a package of supports.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said: “The key measure needed to assist workers and sole traders in these sectors is a “step-down” income subsidy, which will not force workers to choose between staying permanently on a reducing Pandemic Unemployment Payment or losing all of that payment if they do some work, in situation where their ability to make a living income is dramatically reduced and will remain so until public health restrictions are fully lifted.”
He said it was “grossly unfair that while employers are entitled to receive a wage subsidy for their employees if their turnover is reduced by 30%, workers and sole traders in arts, music, live entertainment and taxi drivers who are still suffering a much a higher percentage loss of income and employment opportunities, in the region 70-80 per cent or more, face losing all government support if they take up any employment, whatsoever.”
Richard Boyd Barrett said: “Tens of thousands of workers in music, arts, entertainment, taxi drivers and others are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. They want nothing more than to return to work but the income and employment opportunities available to them have collapsed to way below the level needed to make a living because of the impact of public health measures on their particular sector. Yet they are being dragooned into a choice between staying out of work on a PUP payment that is being steadily reduced or taking up the dramatically reduced work that may be available, knowing they will lose all of the government income support.
“The government must urgently put in place a package that will support these workers and sole traders returning to work where they can, without plunging them into poverty if they do.”