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Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement today (Tuesday) on new coronavirus restrictions, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady 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 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:

  • Less than half of employees (46%) say their workplaces have introduced safe social distancing.
  • Just two-fifths (38%) of workers say they know their employers have carried out Covid-Secure risk assessments. It is a legal requirement to carry out a risk assessment and share with staff.
  • Just four in 10 (42%) report being given adequate PPE.

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

Force companies to publish their Covid safety plans  Bad employers shouldn't get away with hiding their coronavirus risk assessments from staff 
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