RGDATA has urged Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to administer vaccines to essential retail and food logistics workers as part of the early frontline workers phase following confirmation that more retail/wholesale workers are out on Covid 19 sick pay than healthcare workers. RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley highlighted the challenges essential shops are facing to maintaining staff levels and trying to keep staff in pods to ensure adequate numbers are available to work and keep the store running. Buckley made the representations as the Government published details of numbers receiving Covid 19 Illness Benefit. 24,517 Retail/wholesale workers and 19,796 healthcare workers are on the illness payment. Click here to read the letter.
19 Jan2021