Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme rates will be reduced from today as part of a plan to gradually wind it down. However, business groups and the opposition have called for the support to continue at the full rate because of the impact the most recently imposed Covid-19 restrictions are having on certain sectors.
Last month, 25,900 employers availed of the EWSS, using it to supplement the wages of around 290,400 workers at a cost of €52.7m for the month.
In total, €5.58bn has been spend on the scheme by the Government since its introduction last year. 27,900 employers remain registered for the assistance.
However, as part of its plan to gradually remove this and other supports over time, in order to avoid a cliff-edge for struggling firms, EWSS