Coronavirus in Yorkshire: Half a million workers in the region will not be able to claim statutory sick pay

Nearly half a million workers in Yorkshire are not eligible for statutory sick pay, new figures have revealed, as the Government demands sick workers stay at home due to coronavirus.
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The Government previously announced that those affected by coronavirus would be able to claim statutory sick pay straight away, rather than wait the standard four days.

But self-employed workers and those who earn below the £118 per week minimum income threshold do not qualify and many on zero-hours contracts routinely do not either.

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Yesterday Sheffield Heeley MP, Louise Haigh, demanded ministers take urgent action to remove all sick pay exemptions and increase the “pitiful” £93 per week rate to help ensure those who need to self-isolate can.

Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh. Photo: JPI MediaSheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh. Photo: JPI Media
Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh. Photo: JPI Media

“Nobody should be forced to go into work with symptoms because they cannot afford to stay off”, she said.

TUC analysis found some 488,766 workers in Yorkshire and the Humber will not qualify for statutory sick pay.

Ms Haigh added: “Our rate of sick pay is the second lowest in Europe and half a million workers in our county do not even qualify for that. No worker should face hardship for doing the right thing and self-isolating, and I fear the Government is taking a big risk if they don’t dramatically increase the pitiful rate of sick pay and end all exemptions.

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“This is a public health priority. Nobody should be forced to go into work with symptoms because they cannot afford to stay off.

“Businesses and the self employed will be hit hard by this crisis and some may be forced to close as work dries up. They must also be entitled to financial support to ensure they are protected throughout this pandemic.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked on Monday whether more needed to be done to help those on the lowest wages.

He said: “I would point you back to the measures in the budget.”

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These included waiving the usual seven-day wait for employment support allowance (ESA), and making statutory sick pay (SSP) available immediately. Firms will also be able to claim taxpayer support where they pay out sick pay.

Boris Johnson later added: “We certainly will be bringing forward all measures that we can.”

He said. “We’re going to have to look after people, and help them for a considerable period. The principle guiding us is that nobody should be penalised for doing the right thing.

“We hope very much that people listening to this will feel that they can take the measures that have been outlined, in the knowledge that they will be effective.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to outline more measures to support businesses later today.