Public servants to have sick leave cut by half
Around 300,000 public servants are to have their sick leave entitlements cut by half, it was announced today.
The Labour Court has recommended that the current uncertified allowance of seven days per year be rolled out to seven days over a two-year period, to be introduced as soon as possible.
While certified sick leave which currently stands at six months of full pay followed by six months on half pay will be halved from January 1, 2014.
However those with critical illnesses will still benefit from the current allowance.
It will have a significant impact on the State's bill for public-sector sick-leave, which cost more than €500m last year.
Brendan Howlin, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform also announced that new arrangements dealing with critical illness are to be introduced.
Bernard Harbor of the IMPACT trade union said that public servants must accept the changes.
"First of all, it's a Labour Court recommendation under a Croke Park [Agreement] issue, which means its binding on both sides," he said.
"But secondly we've already been told by Government that they intend to legislate on this anyway so obviously a piece of law is a piece of law, and there's no question of accepting or rejecting that.
"These are the changes that will happen - that is clear."
