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Independent.ie have announced that the Coronavirus Unemployment Payment is set to rise to €350 per week and that the Government are to pay 70pc of retained workers&#39; salaries.This news if officially confirmed later today will ease the pain for a lot of affected workers and business owners across the country.They also mention that in a significant new move the Government will also pay 70pc of employee wages up to €410 per week for businesses who are willing to meet the remainder of their staff’s weekly payment.MORE TO FOLLOW........

COVID-19 Payment set to rise to €350 and Gov to pay 70% of salaries

Minister for Education Joe McHugh has confirmed that schools will not be reopening in the short term.He announced on GalwayBay FM that schools will not be opening on Monday and that more information is expected to be confirmed today or tomorrow regarding extensions of school closures.Regarding state exams, the minister said that he and his department &quot;really want to make those exams happen&quot;.He said they owed it to young people to &quot;see this through and try to have the exams this year&quot;.

Schools will not Re-Open on Monday

Lots of people are asking;What should they do if their place of employment is still open and they have Covid-19 Symptoms?What payment will they receive if they are layed off work or lose their job permanently and how &amp; where do they apply?<h2>ANSWERS;</h2>DO NOT GO TO WORK IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMSIf you have Covid-19 symptoms you should not attend work, contact your GP and self-isolate for 14 days. Be aware of the symptoms, they include;• a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry• shortness of breath• breathing difficulties• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) or chillsOther symptoms are fatigue, headaches, sore throat, aches and pains. If you develop symptoms you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. The GP will assess you over the phone. If they think you need to be tested for coronavirus, they will arrange a test. You can apply for Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences. The personal rate for this payment is €305, as compared with the normal Illness Benefit rate of €203.It will be paid for a maximum of 2 weeks where a person is self-isolating, but will be paid for the duration of a person&#39;s absence from work if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We must stress that you cannot visit your doctor. You must contact them by phone. (Source; HSE.ie)Full details and more information available here; <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/">https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/</a> BUSINESS TEMPORARY CLOSURESIf your place of work has closed for business due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and your employer cannot pay you, you can apply for an emergency COVID-19 Unemployment Payment?The payment is available to all employees and the self-employed Full and Part-Time who have lost employment due to the pandemic. It is also available for Students who were working and lost pay.You will get a payment of €350 per week for up to 6 weeks (as applicable). Minister Regina Doherty has confirmed that they are currently working on revising this payment scheme, so more information will also be available in the coming days.MORE DETAILS &amp; TO APPLY GO HERE; <a href="https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/other-info-pages/covid-19/">https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/other-info-pages/covid-19/</a> PERMANENT BUSINESS CLOSURES &amp; PERMANENT UMEMPLOYMENTIf you are unemployed, as in your company has closed for good or your position has ceased to exist, you will need to apply for and be assessed for Jobseeker’s payment supports. It may also be possible to apply for the Emergency COVID-19 Unemployment Payment in the interim and we recommend you also apply for Unemployment Benefit as soon as possible. You  can apply for a Jobseeker&#39;s Allowance/Benefit on <a href="www.MyWelfare.ie">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>There&#39;s also a wealth of information being constantly updated <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/covid19_overview.html">HERE</a> on issues such as;<ul><li>Health Information</li><li>Employment and income supports</li><li>Mortgage, loans and rent</li><li>Housing</li><li>Utilities</li><li>Education</li><li>Travel</li><li>Older people</li></ul>STAY SAFE! COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

QUESTIONS RE; SICK LEAVE, TEMP & PERMANENT LAY OFF?

The Irish Government will introduce a significant financial package next week for those who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus-related disruption and others at risk of becoming unemployed, Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said on (today) Sunday 22nd March.Other European countries like Britain and Denmark have moved to pay up to 80% of the wages of staff who have either lost or are at risk of losing income as a result of the pandemic&quot;.&quot;I want to reassure people that the government are going to introduce a significant and supportive economic package in the coming days that will go well beyond what we have announced to date,&quot; Coveney told national broadcaster RTE. &quot;That will treat everybody equally, so in other words we are not going to separate the people who have lost their jobs to date from the people who may lose their jobs next week.We want to do something that provides, if you like, a guaranteed level of income for everybody across the country.&quot;Ireland has so far introduced an emergency 203 euros a week payment for employees and self-employed people who have lost their jobs or had hours cut and the government has said it will refund the same amount to struggling firms who keep staff on. It said 58,000 people had already claimed the payment by Wednesday, just three days after its introduction following the closure of schools, childcare facilities and pubs.A huge number of restaurants and retailers followed suit voluntarily.Ireland is planning to ramp up coronavirus testing to cut a waiting list that stands at 40,000, over three times the number tested this week alone, Health Service Executive (HSE) operations chief Anne O&#39;Connor told a news conference.With 41 test centres due to be in operation from Tuesday, including a naval ship anchored in Dublin&#39;s River Liffey, the HSE plans to conduct 4,500 tests a day from Monday. It is distributing 40,000 test kits around the country and is close to finalising an order from China for 100,000 more.HSE chief executive Paul Reid added that the 50,000 people from all manner of professions who answered a recruitment call issued last week included 5,000 nurses and 1,000 doctors.&quot;This week is a huge week in the history of the healthcare system in Ireland,&quot; Reid said. &quot;We can save lives by our actions this week.COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Significant Income Support Announcements on the Way

Are you trying to find a job but you&#39;ve no prior professional experience? The team at JobAlert.ie have put together some quick tips to help you with your job search.No experience, no problem!The impossible riddle that haunts jobseekers – “I need experience to get a job, but I need a job to get experience”.If you are still in school, searching for a part-time job can feel hopeless when you haven’t got any work experience.Do not fear as we have detailed a blueprint to beef up your CV and guide you to landing a job this summer!Writing a CV without any work experienceHave you recently found yourself saying “I don’t have anything to put down on my CV”? Well, that is all about to change my friend.It’s time to put on your thinking cap for a few minutes.Employers are looking for candidates that possess a particular set of skills to make sure they are competent enough to do the job they are hiring for.So it’s time to prove to the employer that you are up to the task.Make a list of any activities you have successfully completed in the past that highlighted your skill set. It’s very important that you list skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.Examples include:•	Working on a school project (Teamwork)
•	Giving a presentation (Communication)
•	Knowledge of computers (IT)
•	Babysitting (Responsibility)
•	Captain of school football team (Leadership)
•	Binge watching Netflix for 12 hours straight (Strong Work Ethic) 
All of these activities allow you to build a list of skills for your CV.  Write down 4 – 5 skills with examples for each. To get the ball rolling, download a <a href="https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-careers/applying-for-a-job/what-is-a-resume/sample-resumes/resume-template-vce-no-work-experience">free CV template here</a> for jobseekers who have no experience. If you don’t have a CV yet, use the same format of the above CV template and just replace the information with your own. Now you have a CV ready for employers.Cover letterThe next piece of the puzzle is writing your cover letter. The same principles for writing your CV will apply for your cover letter. Gather relevant skills plus examples from past activities and include them in your cover letter. Download <a href="https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-careers/applying-for-a-job/what-is-a-cover-letter/sample-cover-letters/cover-letter-no-work-experience">Cover Letter templates here</a> which are specifically designed for jobseekers who have no experience. No shortcutsWhen applying online for summer jobs you must always tailor your CV and cover letter for each individual job. This does not mean lie about who you are and what skills you possess. It just means making your application as relevant as possible to the position you are applying for.Using similar language and linking your relevant skills with those listed on the job requirements will give you an advantage and grab the attention of the employer more than if you keep your CV generic.Completing a new cover letter for every job you apply for will also give you an edge and show the employer that you have done your homework. Do some research and learn about the company’s values and history. Then tie in how your own personality traits and skills that you showcased are aligned with the company you are applying for.Use your networkI’m sure you’re familiar with the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Well, when it comes to finding a job for the summer this old school saying holds some weight.Make sure you speak with teachers, family members, sports team coaches, parents of friends – literally anyone you can think of and ask them if they know of any companies hiring. The fact is that you could be just one conversation away from a friend or family member helping you land a summer job.Also – let the world know you want a job! Don’t keep it bottled in. Blast it out across your Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat profiles – even use Facebook stories (It’s about time someone did).  If nobody knows you want a job nothing will ever change. Everyone you come in contact with, just tell them you are looking for a summer job.Get out of your comfort zone – If you don’t ask you don’t getIn the case of finding a summer job just sending applications online will not be enough.  It’s time to get up close and personal with employers. I do understand that the thought of printing out your CV and visiting a shop owner to ask for a job may seem daunting. However the reward far outweighs the awkwardness of asking an employer if they are hiring. Landing a job for the summer will allow you to start earning your own money while gaining valuable work experience that will act as the building blocks for your career in the future.Build a tolerance for rejectionNever take rejection personally. Ever.Everyone you have ever known who is in a job has been rejected at one point or another. It’s part and parcel of the game, so get used to it. The more times you get rejected, the more your confidence will build in the face of it. Rejection will build your character. What won’t build your character is the fear of rejection.It’s this fear of rejection that cripples most people and paralyses them when it comes to taking meaningful action that would improve their lives.  So get comfortable with the uncomfortable and embrace rejection.Ideas on where to find summer jobs:•	Local shops and small businesses in your town (Not just for the summer)
•	Shopping centres
•	Hotels and resorts
•	Tourist’s attractions 
•	Golf and Tennis clubs
•	Parks &amp; recreation areas 
•	Local government summer job programs: Visit your local county council careers website or contact the local enterprise boards in your area
•	Summer camps
•	Fast food restaurants (Visit their careers website first to see if they are hiring)
•	Internship programs: Search online to see if any companies are offering an internship program.
•	Visit the jobs section on our website to find companies hiring in your local area.
Final tip: If you are a teenager please become familiar with your employment rights as well as the Minimum Wage rate in Ireland. Review all the details <a href="https://www.schooldays.ie/articles/teen-summer-jobs">here.</a>Remember that there are move CVs than there are jobs, so keep applying and stack the odds in your favour. The team at JobAlert.ie wishes you every success in your venture to find a job this summer. When the going gets tough just keep on going! Best of luck.Want to keep updated with jobs in your local area? Like us on Facebook and receive updates every day about opportunities in your county. We have a separate Facebook page for every county in Ireland -<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/find-us-on-facebook/"></a> check out the full list at the bottom of our website <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie">home page.</a>