SFA says ditching of sick pay proposals will benefit small firms

The Small Firms Association (SFA) says that small businesses have won a major victory with the ditching of proposals on sick pay.

Indeed, the organisation says that the government's scrapping of plans to pass on the direct cost of employment to businesses will be a huge benefit to firms.

Furthermore, it said that the decision not to increase the levy on fuel and the rebate for haulers will also help reduce the cost of getting employees to work.

SFA chairman, AJ Noonan, said that measures about passing on sick pay costs would have been "detrimental" to job retention and creation.

"The small business campaign against proposals from the Department of Social Protection to pass on the cost of the first four weeks of sick pay to employers, to increase employer's PRSI, and to introduce mandatory employee pension provision has been very successful," he added.

Meanwhile, Allied Irish Bank has announced plans to improve small business lending by setting up a new scheme - one that will see business loan decisions made the next working day.

Posted by Emily Smith

Date published 18 Feb 2013 | Last updated 11 Dec 2012