Mayo Chambers have called for the Government not to increase the cost of employment by transferring the cost of sick pay on to employers or raising PRSI in Budget 2013.
Tom Canavan, president of Castlebar Chamber and chairman and spokesperson for Mayo Chambers, said: “Transferring the cost of sick pay on to employers will do nothing more than damage employment. The Minister for Social Protection states that this move could save her Department €89 million, but can she not see that this is simply transferring an extra €89 million burden onto already struggling businesses?”
Businesses nationwide are utterly opposed to any proposal to transfer the cost of sick pay to employers, with 87 per cent of respondents in a recent Chambers Ireland membership survey indicating it would have a negative impact on their business. “The uncertainty created by the constant kite-flying on Minister [Joan] Burton has already had negative effects on both business and consumer confidence,” the statement from Mayo Chambers said.
“Any move to transfer sick pay costs to employers and raise PRSI would cost jobs and is a direct contradiction of the Government’s stance that job creation is their number one priority. With the current unemployment rate at 14.8 per cent it is ludicrous that proposals such as these are even on the table,” the statement continued.
The Chambers are calling on all Mayo TDs to oppose this proposal in Budget 2013 and are very concerned that Minister Burton has refused to engage in any consultations with Chamber Ireland on this matter.
Chambers from Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Claremorris, and Westport have consulted on this issue.
