The UK’s trade union body has urged the Government to protect ‘people’s jobs and livelihoods’ as 300,000 zero-hours workers who do not qualify for sick pay could be left high and dry if coronavirus self-isolation turns into a national lockdown.
Boris Johnson is understood to be reviewing the Government’s handling of the pandemic by drafting emergency legislation, to be unveiled next week.
If the package of extraordinary powers are approved by Parliament, mass self-isolation could be imposed on the country within months.
Delivery drivers, bar staff, shop workers, and those employed in the hospitality and leisure sectors are likely to be hardest by the potential measures.
They will have no option but to work from home.
Up to two million workers in the UK could be left without sick pay if coronavirus self-isolation develops into a country-wide lockdown. Pictured is a deserted Golden Jubilee Bridge in London
Britain’s once busy and bustling streets are beginning to resemble ghost towns, sparking fears that country-wide closures of shops and restaurants are imminent. Pictured are empty shelves in a supermarket in south London
Britain’s once busy and bustling streets are beginning to resemble ghost towns, sparking fears that country-wide closures of shops and restaurants are imminent.
The country’s death toll jumped to 35 overnight and the number of those infected soared to 1,372.
A number of European nations have responded to the outbreak by closing restaurants, bars and non-essential shops.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK had not ‘ruled that out’ as he vowed: ‘We will stop at nothing to fight this virus.’
Despite the grim outlook, Mr Hancock said the UK had endured worse, telling Sky News: ‘We have been through worse as a country, of course we have, but it is a very significant challenge.
‘The measures that we are taking, the measures that we are looking at taking, are very, very significant and they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in this country in order to tackle this virus.’
The Government is yet to announce a plan to protect workers who miss out on sick pay because they don’t earn enough. In order to qualify for statutory sick pay a worker must earn £118 per week.
If the UK follows the measures being put in place by Italy and Spain, the country could be under lockdown in the coming weeks.
The country’s death toll jumped to 35 overnight and the number of those infected soared to 1,372.
Bar staff, shop workers and those working in the hospitality and leisure sectors are likely to be hit the hardest by potential new government measures. Pictured is London Stadium, home of West Ham United FC, announcing no matches will be held there
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in Wednesday’s budget speech that people need to be protected from coronavirus and its economic impacts.
He announced that sick pay would be available from the first day someone is sick or self-isolating, rather than the existing four-day wait.
He confirmed that those who are self-isolating or caring for someone who is self-isolating with symptoms, will be eligible for sick pay.
And there will now be an online process for proving that you have been asked to self-isolate, in place of having to attend a GP appointment for a ‘fit note’.
A number of European nations have responded to the outbreak by closing restaurants, bars and non-essential shops. Pictured are empty streets in central London
Mr Sunak advised that those who don’t earn enough to qualify for sick pay should use the benefit system instead.
However, there is still a five-week wait for the main benefit, Universal Credit.
Although the Government has said that advance payments are available, this could end up creating additional debt.
If an individual has savings of more than £16,000 they will not qualify for Universal Credit, meaning that they will be forced to spend their hard-earned savings just to survive.
The level of general benefits is even lower than sick pay, which is £94.25.
Employment Support Allowance is just £73.10 per week.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK had not ‘ruled that out’ as he vowed: ‘We will stop at nothing to fight this virus.’ Pictured is an empty Broad Street in Birmingham
Punts along the River Cam are left deserted in Cambridge as people stay away due to the coronavirus outbreak
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has started a petition called #SickPayForAll which aims to get the Government to give every worker in the UK sick pay from the first day of illness or self-isolation.
The government will this week move to ban mass gatherings so that 999 services can focus on coronavirus.
Ireland and a number of other countries have already taken the step with Dublin advising that all indoor gatherings of 100 people or more should be cancelled.
Empty wooden benches outside the London Stadium, home of West Ham United Football Club
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London, as Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK had not ‘ruled out’ closing restaurants, bars and non-essential shop
