8 minute read
The b News
USEFUL EVENTS FOR SMES
InterTradeIreland Go-2Tender workshops
Tuesday, 22nd February, Wednesday, 2nd March, Tuesdays 22nd March, 5th & 26th April, 9.30am - 1.30pm Book here.
Thursday 24th February, 10th, 24th & 31st March, 8.30am - 3.30pm Book here.
Thursday 10th March, Wednesday 6th April, Thursday 7th April, 10am - 11.00am Book here.
National Construction Summit
Thursday, 3rd March Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown Book here.
Dublin IP and R&D Summit
Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd March The Convention Centre Dublin Book here.
SEAI Energy Show 2022
Wednesday 30th & Thursday 31st March RDS, Dublin Register here.
The National Sales & Marketing Summit
Cyber Expo & Conference Ireland
Legislation to establish Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) has passed
A new milestone law will see CEA crack down on larger scale and more complex breaches of company law. Minister of State with responsibility for Company Law, Robert Troy TD, welcomed the passing of the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2021 through all legislative stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas on Wednesday, 15th December. The Bill will now be sent to the President for his signature and enactment into law. The landmark Bill will transform the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) into a statutory and independent agency entitled the Corporate Enforcement Authority with additional resources to investigate and prosecute white collar crime. Find out more here.
Remote Working Bill 2021
On 25th January, An Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar TD published details of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2021 which will provide a legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing a request for remote work can be based. Details of the general scheme of the draft Bill, along with the regulatory impact assessment can be found on here.
COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme Extension
An Tánaiste published on Friday 21st January the Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Bill, which gives employees who have lost out on reckonable service while they were on lay-off due to COVID-19 restrictions, and have subsequently been made redundant, a special payment of up to a maximum payment of €1860 tax-free to bridge the gap in their redundancy entitlements. Find out more here.
COVID Recognition Payment and New Public Holiday
The Government has announced a COVID recognition payment of €1,000 (tax free), for eligible frontline health and ambulance workers and a new public holiday on Friday 18th March. In 2023 there will be a new permanent public holiday established in celebration of St Brigid’s Day. This will be the first Monday in every February, except where St. Brigid’s Day happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday 1st February will be a public holiday. Read full details here.
HSA’s COVID-19 Response Plan Supports
The COVID-19 Response Plan template and Good Practice checklists, available to view here, have been prepared to help employers, business owners and managers to continue running their workplaces safely, and to help workers, in particular the Lead Worker Representative understand what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The template and checklists have been drafted, based on the Government’s advice and the Transitional Protocol – Good Practice Guidance for Continuing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19. The Transitional Protocol reflects the most recent public health advice, and it is the current guidance for the safe return and continued safe operating of workplaces. The template and checklists should be read in conjunction with the guidance. Employers, workers and their representatives are encouraged to continue working together to help continue to keep workplaces safe. The Response Plan template and Good Practice Checklists will help you to do that.
Health Information and Awareness calendar 2022
The Health Information and Awareness calendar 2022 contains links to different campaigns and events, national and international for 2022. View the calendar here.
SEAI ENERGY SHOW
The SEAI Energy Show is taking place on Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st March in the RDS, Dublin. This is a businessto-business event, focused on sustainable energy solutions. This exhibition offers expert seminars, technology demonstrations and multiple networking opportunities for visitors. You can register to exhibit at the event here or register to attend here.
HR QUERIES FROM SMES
WHAT IS THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE?
The national minimum hourly rate has become €10.50 as of 1st January 2022. Category of Employee Hourly Rate • Aged 20 and over €10.50 • Under 18 €7.35 • Aged 18 €8.40 • Aged 19 €9.45 Since 4th March 2019 trainee rates have been abolished. For the purposes of the National Minimum Wage your gross wage includes, for example, the basic salary and any shift premium, bonus or service charge. If employees receive board or lodgings, that is food or accommodation from the employer, the maximum amounts that can be included are: • for board only €0.94 per hour worked • for accommodation only €24.81 per week or €3.55 per day from 1st
January 2022. The following categories of employees are excluded from the National Minimum Wage: • employees who are close relatives of the employer, where the employer is a Sole Trader • a craft apprentice within the meaning of the Industrial Training
Act, 1967, or the Labour of Services
Act, 1987 In order to ensure that the increase in the minimum wage does not result in employers attracting a higher level of PRSI charge solely due to this increase, the employer PRSI threshold will increase from €398 currently to €410 from 1st January 2022.
Guide on EU funding for tourism REACH Regulation Public Consultation
This online guide highlights the wide range of funding programmes financed by the new budget, multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, and Next Generation EU. It contains links to relevant EU programme websites with the latest developments (such as annual work programmes or calls for proposals) and further details per programme. For inspiration, you can also see concrete project examples funded by previous EU programmes. Find out more here.
InterTradeIreland Chairman appointed
InterTradeIreland, the cross-border trade and economic development body, has announced the appointment of Richard Kennedy as its new Chairman. Mr Kennedy is Chief Executive of Belfast-based Devenish. Under his guidance, the agri-tech firm has transformed from a company focused on the Northern Ireland market to an international research, development and innovation business trading in over forty countries. Welcoming the new Chairman to the InterTradeIreland board, CEO Margaret Hearty said: “Richard is an expert in growing a business in new markets and has an outstanding record of achievement. We have no doubt that he will make a very significant contribution to InterTradeIreland. We look forward to his innovative vision and considered input.” Commenting on his appointment, Mr Kennedy said, “I am delighted to be appointed Chair of InterTradeIreland – a vital organisation that helps power economic prosperity across the island of Ireland. This is a pivotal time to be joining the board, as InterTradeIreland builds on the next chapter of its evolution and growth. It’s an exciting prospect to work with the rest of the board, CEO Margaret Hearty, the senior leadership team and all of the InterTradeIreland team.” With this new appointment, InterTradeIreland continues to focus on helping firms to grow. To date over 48,000 small businesses have been supported by InterTradeIreland to identify and develop trade and innovation opportunities. The organisation has created over 18,000 new jobs and generated more than €1.3bn/£1.2bn in business development value, with cross-border trade currently sitting at €8.4bn/£7.4bn, its highest level in 20 years. The EU Commission is reviewing the REACH Regulation as part of the EU Chemicals Strategy to help achieve a toxic free environment. The Commission is hosting a public consultation on the REACH revision from 20th January 2022 - 15th April 2022. The public consultation aims to gather views from a wide variety of stakeholders on the main elements considered for the revision of REACH, covering registration requirements, introduction of mixtures assessment factors, simplification of communication in the supply chains, evaluation, authorisations and restrictions, and enforcement. If you would like to have your say, you can find more information and a link to the public consultation survey here and submit any feedback before 15th April.
Education and Training Boards (ETBs) provide a broad range of training programmes specific to the hospitality and tourism sector that deliver upskilling and reskilling opportunities for employers and their staff. In 2021, two new highly subsidised ‘Skills to Advance’ programmes were introduced to complement existing provision, delivering critical team leadership and supervisory management skills to the sector. The Developing Leaders for Hospitality and Tourism programmes were developed by SOLAS and the ETBs in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation, Fáilte Ireland and the Regional Skills Fora. They were positively received, with employers recognising that investing in people is a vital element in retaining and attracting talent, which are critical factors in rebuilding the industry. Skills to Advance works collaboratively with the ETBs, employer bodies and key stakeholders to design, develop and cascade targeted regional and sectoral initiatives to provide agile and relevant upskilling opportunities. These initiatives include Leadership and Management, Developing Leaders for Hospitality and Tourism, Green Skills and Digital Skills for Business. eCollege, an online learning service is also available under Skills to Advance in key areas such as project management, digital and business skills. eCollege courses are available on a continuous intake basis, with no waiting lists and flexible time for completion. Find your local ETB contact here.
