Hoteliers call for TWSS support for seasonal tourism workers

​As hotels and guesthouses across the country get ready to reopen on Monday next, 29th June 2020, the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) is calling on the Government to expand the current Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) to include seasonal tourism employees.  Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines tourism and hospitality businesses, including hotels, will be operating under significant operating constraints this summer. Tim Fenn, 

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Chief Executive, IHF says: “Seasonal tourism businesses will find it difficult to re-employ many of their experienced people this summer without Government support.  These jobs are vital for many families living in regions where tourism is the only major employer. These people should not be left behind.”

Almost 270,000 people were employed in the tourism industry before the pandemic. Just under 40,000* of these are seasonal employees who would return typically to the same employer every year for the busy tourism season, which runs from April to October.

​However, because they were not employed on 29th February 2020, they are not currently eligible employees for TWSS.  “We ask that the Government considers including seasonal employees in the TWSS scheme in a manner similar to employees returning to work following maternity or adoptive leave,” says Mr Fenn.

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