The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has said it strongly supports moving away from flat-rate to pay-related social welfare benefits for PAYE workers.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys was due to bring a plan for enhanced payments before Cabinet today.
Under the proposals, workers who lose their jobs will get pay-related benefits for up to nine months after they become unemployed.
They will get at least 60% of their previous income paid up to a cap of €450 a week for the first three months, 55% of previous earnings in the next three months with €375 a week the maximum being paid.
Those out of work for nine months will be paid at 50% of the previous earnings capped at €300 a week.
Ireland is currently one of only four EU countries that still has a flat rate for job seekers benefit.
"For too long full-time workers have been left to endure a sharp fall in income and living standards after losing their job," said ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy.
"The Irish Congress of Trade Unions and our affiliated unions look forward to engaging with Government and the Opposition to get the design of this significant social policy reform right for workers and their families.
"We support the call of the Unions at Tara Mines for a fast-tracking of this scheme or a similar scheme for these workers," Mr Reidy said.
ICTU said that the average time spent on contributory unemployment benefit is 13 weeks, with 70% of workers in a new job within six months of signing on.
