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The Minister of Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has criticized Aer Lingus for its approach to claim financial aid for the workers, which she acknowledged that they had been left in a “terrible” situation due to the reductions in their income due to the pandemic.
Speaking at the Dáil, the Minister said that it was difficult to understand how an organization the size of Aer Lingus had trouble interpreting the criteria of the Work Wage Subsidy Plan (EWSS) and the Short Time Work Plan, when many small businesses in the whole country had not had such a problem.
The Minister was responding to a current issue from Sinn Féin TDs Darren O’Rourke, Louise O’Reilly and Claire Kerrane about the difficulties recently experienced by Aer Lingus staff in accessing welfare rights after their salary and their hours will be reduced by 70%.
Until August 31, the airline’s workforce was supported through the Temporary Wage Subsidy Plan and, from September 1, the company was entitled to subsidies from the Employment Wage Subsidy Plan of up to € 203 per week per eligible worker.
However, several employees who contacted RTÉ and politicians showed payrolls showing that they had suffered serious drops in income and asked how they could pay mortgages, rents and other bills.
Under normal circumstances, short-time workers are entitled to claim income support during the days when they are not working.
However, numerous staff members reported that, despite the significant drop in income they had experienced, Aer Lingus had refused to sign the appropriate forms so that they could submit their requests for supplemental welfare payments.
The airline had blamed the confused advice from the Department and Commissioners of Revenue, but last Friday the company told staff that the Department had confirmed they would be eligible for benefits.
Minister Humphreys confirmed that she had received correspondence from Aer Lingus staff regarding her difficulties and acknowledged the “enormous stress” experienced by many of the affected workers at this time.
After describing how short-term work arrangements work, including the fact that employers are required to fill out certain forms, he noted that since the EWSS went into effect on September 1, many thousands of companies had switched to it without any impact. for your workers.
However, he went on to criticize Aer Lingus management, saying: “It is therefore difficult to understand how an organization the size of Aer Lingus, with a dedicated human resources department, has had trouble interpreting the criteria related to EWSS and short-term work when companies across the country haven’t had that problem. “
Ms. Humphreys said that despite that fact, her main concern was for the affected workers and ensuring that they could access their rights.
The minister said Aer Lingus had reported today that the airline would provide its employees with any pending documentation necessary to finalize a request for support to job seekers “on an urgent basis”.
It also said it had asked its officials to prioritize decisions on these requests to ensure claims are paid as quickly as possible once received.
Aer Lingus responded that it had requested clarity from the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Protection on a number of key questions weeks before the start of the EWSS on how the plan would work.
However, he stated that “… he did not receive that clarity from the Department.”
In a statement, he said that he had written to Minister Humphreys on September 7 regarding these issues.
The company said that while the minister did not respond personally to inquiries, Aer Lingus held “constructive discussions” with her department during which the requested clarity was provided.
It read: “Aer Lingus has at all times acted in accordance with the guidance provided by DEASP and the Commissioners of Revenue. We believe that the issues related to the EWSS have now been resolved and an agreed process has been established with DEASP.”
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