Table of Contents
Launch of the White Paper on Enterprise
Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme
Thousands more Irish companies eligible for Government export grants
2023 National Minimum Wage increase
New entitlement to paid sick leave
Co-operative Societies Bill
Employment Permits Bill 2022
New Consumer Rights legislation
Skills for Better Business - a new resource for SMEs
Launch of the White Paper on Enterprise
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD and Ministers of State Dara Calleary TD and Damien English TD launched the White Paper on Enterprise on 7 December.
The White Paper sets out the Government's enterprise priorities to 2030 and an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, to protect Ireland’s strong economic position, and respond to challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of the pandemic.
Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme
The TBESS was introduced to support businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs. Your business can make a claim under the scheme if it:
- is tax compliant,
- carries on a Case I trade or Case II profession. This includes charities and approved sporting bodies that carry on certain activities and
- has experienced a significant increase of 50% or more in its electricity and/or natural gas average unit price.
Qualifying businesses can claim for 40% of the increases in their energy bills.
Thousands more Irish companies eligible for Government export grants
Government has decided to extend the mandate of the Local Enterprise Offices to target new exporters by providing direct grants to firms who employ more than ten and are operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.
In future years, it is intended to further expand the range of advisory services available to all companies with up to 50 employees, including those operating in the locally traded sector.
2023 National Minimum Wage increase
On 1 January 2023 the National Minimum Wage rate will increase from €10.50 to €11.30 per hour.
- Aged 20 and above: €11.30
- Aged 19: €10.17
- Aged 18: €9.04
- Aged under 18: €7.91
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 increases from €410 to €441.
New entitlement to paid sick leave
From 2023, workers will be entitled to up to 3 days of sick leave in a year, paid at 70% of gross salary up to a cap of €110. It is intended that the entitlement will rise to up to 10 days sick leave in a year by 2026.
The new entitlement to paid sick leave from your employer will come into effect from 1 January 2023.
Co-operative Societies Bill
The Government approved the drafting of the Co-operative Societies Bill, the most far-reaching legislative reform in this area for over 130 years.
This legislation provides a specific legislative basis for co-operatives for the first time and consolidates and modernises existing provisions and introduces modern corporate governance, financial reporting and compliance requirements, making co-operatives more attractive to investors.
Employment Permits Bill 2022
The Employment Permits Bill 2022 was discussed at the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The purpose of the Bill is to consolidate and update the existing legislative provisions that regulate the Employment Permits system. Improvements under discussion include:
- The introduction of a seasonal employment permit.
- Revision of the labour market needs test to make it more relevant and efficient.
- Improved efficiency through moving operational criteria to regulations.
- Providing for additional conditions for the grant of an employment permit such as training or accommodation support for migrant workers, business process innovation or
- Upskilling to decrease future reliance on permits, and
- Automatic indexation of salary thresholds.
New consumer rights legislation
A comprehensive suite of consumer rights provided for by the Consumer Rights Act 2022 came into force from 29 November.
The Consumer Rights Act provides a number of benefits to consumers which include:
- Stronger consumer rights, protections and remedies across a number of key areas.
- New and clearer rights and remedies when services are not provided as expected and agreed.
- New protections in relation to digital content and digital services.
- Increased transparency in regard to the description of goods or services provided, the total price of items and the cost of delivery.
Skills for Better Business - a new resource for SMEs
Last month, the Government launched Skills for Better Business, a two-part initiative aimed at assisting SME owners and managers across Ireland.
Skills for Better Business comprises an online tool for management skills assessment, complemented by a sign-posting resource providing quick contact information for management education and training.
