A North Clare hotelier is appealing to the government to increase supports for seasonal workers whose livelihoods are being impacted by the Coronavirus.
Michael Vaughan has written a letter, which was raised in the Dáil by Clare’s Independent TD Michael McNamara, in which he says had planned on taking on his seasonal workers this week on the 70-30 COVID payment scheme the government is running with many employers.
However, he says that because some of them were drawing job seekers allowance up until now, they are not allowed to be hired on that increased rate.
The Department of Social Protection says the job seekers rate that has been being paid to seasonal workers is unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be paid.
But Lahinch hotelier Michael Vaughan, who is in the running for a seat in the next Seanad, says they need more than this to ensure that those relying on seasonal income are able to stay afloat.
