We can definitely get onboard with this.
People Before Profit has launched a bill that would see Ireland increase its number of bank holidays.
The party has proposed that three extra bank holidays be established.
The dates included in the bill are 1 February, the last Monday in September and the last Monday in November in each calendar year.
People Before Profit noted that Ireland currently has a lower number of holiday entitlements than many other European countries with 20 days minimum holiday entitlements and nine paid public holidays.
In contrast, France allows for 30 days of annual leave and 11 bank holidays each year for workers.
“Workers in Ireland are lagging way behind their European counterparts in terms of paid holiday entitlements,” People Before Profit Cllr Adrienne Wallace said.
“This Bill would begin to realign the balance by introducing three new bank holiday dates – in February, September and November.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic workers in Ireland have been working the equivalent of 38 extra hours per month, according to a LinkedIn survey, and have experienced increased stress levels working from home. It is only right and fair that workers in this country who work extremely hard are rewarded with extra public holidays.”
After this weekend our next public holiday isn't til Halloween – 84 days.
Today @PB4P launch our bill to make 3 more holidays: Feb 1 & the last Monday in September & November.
🇮🇪 only has 9 holidays compared to
🇦🇹 13
🇵🇹 13
🇸🇪 13
🇵🇱 13
🇮🇹 12
🇪🇸 12Time to give workers a break
— Paul Murphy 🏳️⚧️ (@paulmurphy_TD) July 30, 2021
Wallace said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that workers in this country have been hit very hard.
“Frontline staff like health workers and nurses, cleaners, retail staff and public transport workers have been on the frontline keeping us all safe from the virus,” she said.
“Many of these workers, in the main, are not paid enough for the work that they have done and the efforts they have and are putting in over this pandemic.
“Whilst extra bank holidays cannot make up for the low wages that a huge proportion of workers have to put up with, workers in this country should be rewarded for that hard work by the government allowing this Bill to progress and legislating for increased bank holidays.”
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