'Warehouse workers must be given more protection,' says Sheffield City Region mayor

The mayor has written to central government surrounding the safety of 21,000 workers employed in the region - many employed handled food and retail goods through storage and freight transportation.

The region plays an ‘important role’ in distributing and sorting products, keeping ‘essential supplies moving’ to the rest of the country, the mayor added.

But concerns have been raised about social distancing practices. The mayor has written to the Secretary of State for Business, Alok Sharma, asking for clearer guidance and enforcement of social distancing rules where businesses continue to operate.

The letter comes after conditions at an ASOS warehouse in Barnsley were described as ‘disgusting’ by unions and said the clothing giant were ‘not enforcing social distancing’. ASOS denied the claims.

The mayor said he had been made aware of a ‘number of businesses’ in the region that ‘continue to operate unsafe working practices’.

“South Yorkshire’s warehouse and distribution workers are keeping our supermarkets stocked, our businesses supplied and our communities connected during the Coronavirus. Their hard work is overlooked and undervalued, but during this challenging time, we must appreciate their selfless efforts, which are helping countless others,” Mayor Jarvis said.

“But I have received troubling reports about social distancing practices. I have been working with trade unions, metro mayors and local authorities to protect workers’ safety and I have raised the matter with government ministers.

“Employers have a moral duty during the pandemic: to safeguard the health of their staff, and in turn the wider public and the NHS. I have asked them to set out what steps they are taking to protect employees’ health and safety.

“But the Government must provide clear and unequivocal guidance about the required social distancing practices. They must ensure they are implemented and take tough action where rules are broken.

“Coronavirus is going to dominate our way of life for the weeks and months ahead, so for everyone’s safety, it’s vital we look after workers who are making sure communities have the supplies they need to get through the crisis.”