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Revenue has brought forward the date of payment for Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme supports to eligible employers.  EWSS payments in respect of September payroll submissions, which were due to be made as soon as possible after October 14, will now be paid into the designated bank accounts of eligible employers by this Friday morning, October…

The Government has approved an increase in the National Minimum Wage of 10 cent an hour, which will bring  it to €10.20 per hour from 1 January.  The move is set to benefit over 122,000 minimum wage workers, though unions have dismissed the increase of less than 1% as inadequate. Some weeks ago, Irish Congress of Trade Unions…

The Tourism Recovery Taskforce has called for radical steps to sustain and revive the industry post-Covid 19 including €120m in grant aid, a loan scheme and staggered school holidays. The Tourism Recovery Taskforce published its Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-2023 yesterday. Chair of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce and CEO of the Incoming Tour Operators Association Ruth Andrews said any longer-term…

The number of people claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen to just under 206,000 – down almost 12,000 from over 217,000 a week ago.  That is according to the latest figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.  This week, 205,593 people will receive PUP payments, a reduction of 11,549 compared to last…

The euro zone’s economic recovery faltered in September with growing evidence sectors and countries in the bloc are diverging as a resurgence of Covid-19 forces the reimposition of restrictions on activity.  A rise in infection rates in Europe will concern policymakers who had hoped the euro zone economy was healing after contracting an historic 11.8% in the…

The Central Bank has said the economy has fared better than forecast during the pandemic but the impact on jobs has been worse. In its latest quarterly bulletin, the bank warns recovery will remain uneven and a ‘no-trade deal’ Brexit will hamper any growth next year. Ireland recorded the smallest fall in GDP across Europe due to…

A third of exporting firms have seen their sales fall so far this year, a new survey from Enterprise Ireland has found. The research also found that 85% of companies expect that Brexit will add up to 10% to their cost base. The survey of 728 firms conducted by Enterprise Ireland details the contrasting fortunes…

The employers’ group Ibec has called on the Government to expand the employment wage subsidy scheme to include companies threatened by a no-trade deal Brexit. In its latest quarterly Economic Outlook, Ibec also says the key to next week’s Budget will be unlocking “turbocharged” savings by households. The employer’s group believes the key to the economy’s recovery, will…

Business leaders have expressed surprise and concern at the recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to move the entire country to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions. Organisations representing firms said if such a decision is taken by Government, additional measures would be required to support businesses. Chief executive of the employers’ group Ibec Danny McCoy said that given…

Europe’s stock markets have dived more than 1% in early trade after news that US President Donald Trump and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19. The region’s main bourses later clawed back some losses but were still languishing in negative territory, while many investors flocked to the safety of haven currencies. The news compounded uncertainty on…