Wet-time benefits for workers
Insured manual workers in specified trades may receive wet-time benefit when bad weather causes unemployment and lost wages, subject to the scheme’s conditions. The Minister gave the hourly rates and said employers pay workers initially and claim reimbursement.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the "wet time" benefits payable to employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
Workers insured under the wet-time scheme, namely, manual workers in the building, civil engineering and painting trades, who suffer unemployment and consequent loss of wages owing to inclement weather, are entitled to payment of benefit under the scheme, provided the relevant conditions are fulfilled. The present hourly rates of benefit are: Skilled workers, 87p; unskilled workers, 79p; young persons, 32p.
The benefit is initially paid to the worker by his employer, who subsequently claims recoupment from my Department. The scheme is financed by equal contributions from employers and workers in the trades concerned, the cost of administration being borne by the Vote for the Department of Social Welfare.