Contractors urged to relax sick pay rules over coronavirus

Aaron Morby 3 years ago
Share

Construction unions are calling for contractors to immediately relax sick pay rules under the industry working rule agreement to help tackle the spread of the coronavirus.

Workers on major projects like Hinkley Point would be protected under union plan
Workers on major projects like Hinkley Point would be protected under union plan

Already the Government has relaxed the rules on statutory sick pay so a worker on sick leave is paid immediately from day one rather than on the fourth day, which is currently the case.

Now unions want this principle to be extended to construction’s specially tailored working rule agreements that supplement statutory sick pay.

In construction, when a worker is operating under a collective industrial agreement as well as SSP (worth £94.25 a week), workers are also entitled to a further top-up of up to £180 a week.

But there is a delay of up to two weeks before the industry sick pay is paid, raising concerns that construction workers who may be displaying early symptoms of coronavirus will not self-isolate, because of pressure to keep earning.

Changes to industry sick pay would protect several hundred thousand construction workers, including those working on major projects such as Crossrail, Hinkley Point and HS2.

Construction union Unite has written to the industry’s major employers bodies asking that industry sick pay is also paid from day one.

Employer bodies urged to relax industry’s sick pay terms


  • Construction Industry Joint Council: civil engineering
  • Joint Industry Board: electricians
  • Joint Industry Board: Plumbing and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVCA)/ Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) agreement
  • National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI)

Unite national officer for construction (building and civil engineering sector) Jerry Swain said: “The custodians of the construction industry, who talk about the need for social responsibility must demonstrate they will do the right thing.

“There is a great deal of worry and fear about the coronavirus and it would be perverse if action was not taken to ensure that construction workers can take the appropriate measures to protect fellow workers and local communities from potentially being infected.”

Latest news

London tower over historic Leadenhall market approved

Building work to start in 2025 on 32-storey tower by historic city market
4 hours ago

PfH starts race for £520m housing decarbonising deal

Four-year framework covers service specific lots from £5m to £100m
3 hours ago

“Rock solid” balance sheet and record results for Henry Boot

Firm sees early signs of recovery this year in core markets
3 hours ago

£200m Edinburgh Haymarket office and hotel approved

Haymarket Yards scheme to move to construction in 2024
2 hours ago

Countryside closes deal for £80m build to rent homes

Deal with private rental developer Sigma to speed up delivery at two sites
4 hours ago

Wates commercial director joins Caddick

Neil Trubshaw one of a string of appointments as contractor looks to expand across the north
3 hours ago

Fusion21 names 16 winners for £125m painting framework

Latest deal will last four-years for public sector clients
12 hours ago

Watkin Jones breaks ground on Cardiff 700 flats scheme

Largest build-to-rent scheme in Wales gets underway
1 day ago

Green light for Birmingham 540-bed student scheme

Work to start on Gough Street student tower this summer
2 days ago

Erith to transform former Ebbsfleet quarry

Joint venture with Henley Developments will see 6,250 new homes built in Kent
2 days ago

Morgan Sindall wins £44m Stevenage leisure hub job

Consolidation of town's sports facilities into one building will release land for 200 homes
2 days ago

Brickies back on the BBC for new series

Season two of popular programme following workers at Hodgkinson Builders
2 days ago

Subcontractors wanted across Newcastle

Latest Constructionline Meet the Buyer event: Register now
2 days ago

Green light for BBC’s £200m new Birmingham home

BAM Construction tipped for historic Typhoo Tea Building conversion
4 days ago

Worker suffers brain trauma in concrete pump accident

Ready mix firm Singh Will Mix It fined £175,000
4 days ago

Winners named for £139m wastewater framework

Six firms share spoils on high value maintenance lot
4 days ago

Plans in for £35m York Uni student centre

University hopes to start building work by next spring
4 days ago

Pent-up post pandemic demand powers up Beard

Builder raises revenue 15% to £165m but cost inflation causes profit dip
4 days ago

Muse submits 260-home Horsham scheme

Lovell Partnerships will build Larksfield Place scheme in heart of market town
4 days ago

Osborne CEO steps down after one month in the job

Boardroom rejig comes as offsite business is sold to Bowmer & Kirkland
5 days ago

Five trades added to skills shortage list for visas

Bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and plasterers gain relaxed visa status after months of employers' campaigning
6 days ago

Wates Residential to build over 300 homes in Wembley

Brent Council signs developer deal with Wates for £100m scheme
5 days ago

Government energy efficiency taskforce experts named

Infrastructure tsar Sir John Armitt and Barratt boss David Thomas join panel of 16 experts
5 days ago

Demolition workers destroy new Banksy artwork

Artist confirms new work just hours after it was reduced to rubble
6 days ago

Countryside gets go-ahead for 258 London homes

Third phase of Walthamstow's Marlowe Road estate regeneration approved
5 days ago

Hunt talks growth while hiking corporation tax

Tax on company profits above £250,000 to hit 25% next month
6 days ago

UK Construction “key driver” in Balfour profit return

Division back in the black with 91% of work now for "public sector and regulated industry clients"
6 days ago

Eleven developers face ban over Gove’s building safety contracts

Housing secretary warns 'we are coming after you' as firms fail to sign contracts to remediate their unsafe buildings
7 days ago

Severfield buys Dutch steelwork contractor for £21m

Voortman deal opens door to European market and fast-growing power distribution sector
6 days ago

L&Q starts biggest ever in-house delivered construction job

Housing association's construction arm starts new-build projects totalling over 1,000 flats this year
6 days ago

Contractor services