Inadequate sick pay undermining Test and Trace

The TUC has warned the government that the NHS Test and Trace system risks failure unless ministers boost Statutory Sick Pay and ensure everyone is eligible for it.

New polling, carried out for the TUC by BritainThinks, reveals that more than four in 10 workers would be plunged into financial hardship if forced to self-isolate for two weeks on SSP. It found that 43 per cent of workers would be unable to pay their bills if they have to survive on £96 a week – the current rate of SSP.

The TUC also reports that for low-income workers, those earning below £15,000, the number unable to survive for two weeks on SSP rises to 50 per cent. And for those earning below £29,000 it rises to 47 per cent.

When asked to select their three top priorities for improving work, increasing the level of sick pay was the third highest priority, beaten only by raising the national minimum wage to £10 an hour and banning zero-hour contracts.

The TUC, who highlight how many workers will be left without a financial ‘safety net’ in the event of a second wave of infections or a spate of local lockdowns, is calling on government to listen to workers and raise the rate of sick pay to the real living wage of £320 a week. They also call for SSP to be extended to all workers so nobody misses out due to not meeting the pay threshold.

Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary, said: “We all want NHS Test and Trace to work. It’s crucial for stopping the spread of Covid-19 and for getting our economy back on its feet. But the lack of decent sick pay puts everything at risk. Asking workers to self-isolate on £96 a week is not viable – especially when many don’t have savings to fall back on.

“We can’t have a situation where people are forced to choose between their health and paying their bills. Employers must do their civic duty and make sure workers can self-isolate on full pay. But where bosses can’t or won’t the government must step in. Unless ministers fix this gaping hole in our safety net Britain will be ill-prepared for a second wave of infections or more local lockdowns. The government must ensure that everyone has access to sick pay and raise the basic rate to at least the real living wage of £320 a week.”