The HSE has apologised to 15 agency contact-tracing staff employed through recruitment agency CPL who experienced a delay in payment of up to six weeks.
The HSE has also acknowledged the problem for the workers, saying: "The HSE apologises to those affected and continues to work closely with CPL to ensure this does not occur again in the future".
In yesterday's address to the Dáil, Richard Boyd Barrett raised the situation of 15 contact tracers assigned by CPL to work for the HSE at the contact tracing centre in UCD in Dublin.
He alleged that the staff were employed six weeks ago to work at the UCD contact tracing centre, but had not been paid for the last four weeks despite working on the front line, and signing off the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to do so.
He said the staff who were critical to contact tracing to keep ahead of the Covid-19 virus had no income to pay bills, and accused the Government of trying to fight Covid on the basis of cheap labour and exploitation.
He also reiterated allegations relating to a previous group of workers who he said had been on zero hours contracts.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the HSE dealt with this issue, and pledged to follow up on the situation, saying there was no agenda not to pay people.
Last night CPL told RTÉ the issue relating to some of its contact-tracing staff had just been brought to its attention, and that it was investigating the matter "as a matter of urgency".
CPL said that as Ireland's leading recruitment and workforce solutions company, employing almost 13,000 people, it took its responsibilities as a major employer very seriously, including paying all of its employees promptly and correctly.
"Our contact-tracing teams are employed on 11 month, specific purpose contracts and are contracted to work 37 hours per week or on a part-time basis as agreed. Our process is to pay promptly on receipt of authorised timesheets from our client companies," it stated.
In a statement, the HSE said it had been made aware of a "small group of new joiners" whose contract hours were only submitted for payment yesterday after six weeks instead of four.
It said that it had been advised that the matter was being prioritised and that the staff would be paid this week.
It confirmed that contact tracers currently being employed as agency employees with CPL were being offered 11-month contracts of employment, but stressed: "Zero hours contracts are not in use for any of these candidates. Candidates are offered full time contracts (37 hours)".
The HSE said some Level 1 Clinical Contact Tracers had requested part-time contracts, which they aimed to facilitate "...due to the requirement for clinical expertise in these roles".
The HSE also outlined the terms and conditions of employment for contact tracers employed by CPL, who are paid on foot of hours submitted by each contact tracing centre on a weekly basis.
Level 2 Contact Tracers are entitled to the standard annual leave given to HSE Grade 3 Clerical Officers, while Level 1 Contact Tracers are allocated leave in line with Grade 4 Assistant Staff Officers.
Overtime is paid at normal HSE rates, but as CPL employees they will not pay HSE superannuation/pension contributions.
Where "work-acquired" Covid-19 illness arises, CPL Contract Tracer appointees will be paid their contracted salary minus the social welfare benefit to which they are entitled.
The HSE confirmed that the CPL recruitment process for a "standing capacity" of 800 tracers commenced on 7 September, and as of 6 November there are 417 new dedicated contact-tracing staff.
Recruitment is expected to continue into December.
