Speaking after the announcement this afternoon from the Executive Office of a new forum, ICTU Assistant General Secretary Owen Reidy said:
"We welcome the announcement of a Forum by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to deal with worker-related issues during Covid-19.
"The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has long advocated such an approach. We believe such a Forum has the potential to play an important role in ensuring all workers in essential services that will remain open can do their jobs safely. The health and safety of working people is paramount.
"We also believe that this Forum can seek to make sure that job retention schemes and any future initiatives on workers' incomes and security can be adequately addressed."
