The Vintners Federation of Ireland has described cuts to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme as "scandalous".
The group say the reduction to the payment is putting huge pressure on publicans and the wider hospitality sector and are warning of potential for jobs losses in the new year.
They're calling for the subsidy, which is used by around 28,000 employers, to be reinstated in full in light of new restrictions and advice for people to cut their contacts.
Speaking to RedFM News, Micheal O'Donovan from the VFI in Cork says the sector is already under pressure.
"To try and find the extra cost of the wage bill will be a huge burden on business, and I think that over the next few weeks up to Christmas whatever business that will be there will probably carry business over in paying that wage bill.
"But when we get to January I fear for what will happen.
"We've worked so hard over the last few months to get people back into our trade, this could be detrimental to our trade going forward and to businesses."
