New entitlement to paid sick leave for Carlow workers comes into effect

A new entitlement to employer-paid sick leave has come into effect today (January 3). 

Workers in Carlow and across Ireland will now be entitled to up to three days of employer-paid sick leave in a year paid at 70% of gross salary up to a cap of €110 per day. 

According to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, it is "the latest in a series of improvements" to the rights and social protections of workers and the self-employed. 

He said, "As with all workers’ rights legislation, this new law sets out the minimum standard that an employer must provide. Many employers have superior sick pay schemes to help attract and retain staff or on foot of an agreement with a trade union." 

Where an employee has an extended period of illness, the scheme will operate alongside the existing illness benefit system which begins on day four of an absence. 

Once an employee has exhausted their entitlement to employer-paid sick leave, they will move onto this system if eligible.  

In addition, the National Minimum Wage today increased from €10.50 to €11.30 per hour. This 80 cent, or 7.6%, increase will see someone on the National Minimum Wage working a 39-hour week receiving a pay increase of €31.20 per week (more than €120 per month or €1,600 per year). 

The minister said the increase is an important step in the progression to a living wage. 

He said, "Government has agreed to introduce a living wage by January 2026. This 80-cent increase will see at least an estimated 164,700 people get a boost to their wages. Corresponding increases have been made for those aged under 20. I look forward to receiving the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on these youth rates later this year."