Chambers Ireland calls for Cabinet to Extend Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme
Chambers Ireland this week called for Government to reform and extend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) beyond its initial June deadline and ensure the right supports are in place to support business liquidity and jobs.
Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “While there have been indications that the Wage Subsidy Scheme will be retained beyond the initial 12-week period, as we approach the end of May, and as more and more businesses start to reopen, we are calling on Government to clearly indicate that the Scheme will continue beyond the initial deadline.
Without this certainty, businesses cannot plan for their reopening until they know what the government will do to support them.
He added, “Our members are also seeking clarity on the issue of redundancies, and whether the deferral put in place under the Emergency Measures legislation in March, will extend beyond ‘the period of 3 months commencing on the enactment of this Act’. This is causing considerable confusion for our members. We urge Cabinet to provide an update on this matter immediately.
Finally, we have consistently called for the waiver on commercial rates to be extended beyond the proposed three month period, where Local Authorities receive central funding to replace the shortfall, so that it reflects the real impact of COVID-19 on business, their position on the roadmap and their ability to return to normal capacity.
This relief must also be offered to all businesses who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, as opposed to just those who have closed completely. Government could use the criteria of 25% decline in revenue, as set out in the TWSS, to determine eligibility for support. The last thing we need to do is introduce a waiver that is too narrow, and results in businesses opting to stay closed so they can receive support on commercial rates owed.”
