TUC: PM must get a grip on safety at work and extend support for jobs

22 Sep 2020 05:04 PM

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the new coronavirus restrictions, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady yesterday said:  

“With infections rising, the government must get a grip on test and trace and safety at work. Workers are still telling us that employers are not enforcing social distancing or providing PPE to keep them safe. 

“Ministers must make it a legal requirement for companies to publish their risk assessments. If we don’t deal with the public health crisis, we won’t be able to deal with the economic one.”

Highlighting the need for jobs support to continue, Frances O’Grady yesterday said: 

“It’s clear that this pandemic will not be over by Christmas – so neither should state support for jobs. 

“The PM says he will put his arms around the workforce. Let’s see him prove it. 

“Warm words will not pay the bills or save livelihoods. The government must come forward with a new jobs protection and training deal that support short-time working to stop the disaster of mass unemployment. 

“Ministers cannot watch from the side lines as good jobs go to the wall.”

Editors Note

TUC polling revealed that many workplaces are still not taking adequate measures to protect employees from coronavirus. The survey – carried out for the TUC by BritainThinks – revealed that:

Risk assessments

The TUC is compiling a crowdsourced database of companies that have published their Covid-secure risk assessment, in compliance with government guidelines. You can view the risk assessments identified so far at covidsecurecheck.uk

Contacts:

TUC press office media@tuc.org.uk 020 7467 1248