Microworking (PDF, 59 pages, 1106KB) - Forfás

FORFÁS MICROWORKING
3.2.2 Calculation of Work Undertaken by Individuals Receiving Benefits
A further enabling measure to encourage micro-working would be to change the focus on days
worked to a focus on hours worked in calculating the amount of work undertaken by
individuals receiving benefits. Under the current system, casual workers working a few hours
a day are disadvantaged relative to casual workers working all their hours in two days.
The issue was raised in the Citizen’s Information Board Social Policy Quarterly Report Jan to
March 2012:
“Evidence from Citizens Information Services suggests an economy in which part-time work
opportunities are available but often at low rates of pay and therefore – particularly where
there is no eligibility for FIS and/or where jobseeker’s payments have been lost – not
financially viable. The 38-hour per fortnight eligibility rule for FIS also continues to be
reported as an issue as regards the unemployment trap.’ (See Appendix 4 for case studies
provided)
The possibility of employment being calculated in hours rather than days for Jobseeker
supports is part of the overall reform process referred to earlier. The recommendation of the
2006 Review focused on ‘half-day’ rather than hours as a unit of calculation – informed by the
Swedish model. The key concern for the Department is the extent to which individuals
currently ineligible for jobseekers’ support will become eligible if hours or half-days are used
in calculations resulting in increased costs to the Exchequer.
3.2.3 Scope for Individuals in Receipt of Benefits to Microwork
There are currently no restrictions to jobseeker claimants engaging in microworking three
days a week 26 . Part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and
casual workers are entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance if they are seeking full-time
employment and fulfil unemployment criteria and means tests.
Microworking by these groups, within the limits stipulated, would not reduce the headline
unemployment rate as in many cases income from microworking would be supplementary to
the receipt of Jobseeker benefits and the majority of individuals would therefore remain on
the Live Register.
The number of hours and total earnings allowed by individuals receiving certain payments
from the Department of Social Protection vary under the different initiatives as follows:
Jobseekers Benefit
Can only work for three days and must be available
for full-time employment. Jobseekers can
microwork for 2.3 hours on 3 days at the National
Minimum Wage with no impact on Jobseeker
payments.
26 Workers working full-time (over 34 hours) over a three day period or earning exceptional amounts on
individual days are not entitled to jobseeker supports (means in excess).
31