Government extends subsidy rates for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme until March 31st

The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., has today (Wednesday) announced that the current rates of subsidy provided by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will remain in place until 31 March 2021, aligned with the extension of the rates of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Both measures were agreed at Government today.

The EWSS is a key component of the Government’s response to the continued Covid-19 crisis and by maintaining the current rates the Government is ensuring that the EWSS remains a strong incentive for employers and workers to maintain their relationship through the current challenging period.

Speaking following today’s Government meeting, Minister Donohoe said:

“The Government have agreed that additional public health restrictions will be in place for the coming weeks – but it is important that employers have the option of retaining their staff so that they may respond and recover quickly when these temporary restrictions are lifted.

That is why the EWSS has been central to the Government’s response with nearly €4.5 billion worth of payments having been made via wage subsidies to sustain businesses and help people to manage financially in the midst of these very challenging times.

These measures have been put in place to help otherwise viable businesses who continue to be adversely impacted by COVID-19 and I would encourage all eligible firms to apply for the schemes.”

The rates of subsidy that will continue to apply until 31 March 2021 are set out as follows:

Gross Weekly pay      Rate of Subsidy to employer

Less than €151.50      Nil

€151.50 – €202.99      €203

€203 – €299.99            €250

€300 – €399.99            €300

€400 – €1,462              €350

Over €1,462                Nil

The estimated cost of the above is an additional €38 million per week, or an additional €323 million in total by the end of March 2021.