- Statutory sick pay. PMQs today Archived Message
Posted by Mary
on March 4, 2020, 11:07 pm
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Corbyn asked about those workers on low pay/zero hours/etc, not eligible for statutory sick pay, who stayed at home to prevent the virus being passed around and the undertaking given to them that they would not suffer financially. Note how Johnson wriggled out of his stated promise that everyone who stayed at home would not lose out. Then he says that they will go on to Universal Credit. Imagine their success in obtaining that. Jeremy Corbyn 'Under this Government, there are 2 million workers on low pay, many of them women in the care sector who are not eligible for statutory sick pay at the present time. It is not clear whether the Prime Minister’s statement just now covers them or not, and those on social security could face sanctions if they miss appointments and, therefore, they and their families will face terrible hardship. When the Prime Minister brings forward the emergency legislation, will he guarantee that workers’ rights to sick pay from day one—he has just indicated that that will apply on statutory sick pay—will apply to all claimants? Those people who are not currently eligible for statutory sick pay will have to make a terrible choice between health and hardship.' _____ The Prime Minister 'The right hon. Gentleman is raising a very important point. We are, of course, very much aware of the issues faced by the self-employed and those on zero-hours contracts. I should stress that some of them will be entitled to statutory sick pay—[Interruption.] A great many. Others will be entitled to help through the existing system, such as universal credit. We are urgently looking at the application process to reflect on the advice on self-isolation. I think that members of the public have appreciated the way that, hitherto, Members have come together across the Floor of this House to deal with the crisis. I think it would be common ground between us all that we would want to do everything we can to avoid penalising those who are doing the right thing.' https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-03-04/debates/034D0B7F-9941-489F-ADDD-69F0E6FC7CA9/Engagements 'I, Daniel Blake' revisited. Take Johnson's promises with a large pinch of salt. |
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