Changes to sick pay provision will affect almost seven million workers who rely on statutory pay as their only form of support when ill, unions are warning.
The TUC said the Government’s decision to end the “day one” payment of statutory sick pay (SSP) will put millions of workers at risk of additional hardship if they need to self-isolate.
From the end of March workers suffering from coronavirus will have to wait until their fourth day of sickness before they can get financial help through SSP.
The union organisation estimated this will leave workers struck down by Covid-19 with £38 to get through their first week of illness, compared with the current £96.
The TUC said the new restrictions on access to sick pay are adding “insult to injury”.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No-one should be pushed into hardship if they are struck down with illness, but the Government is making it even harder for Covid-19 sufferers to get basic support. £38 a week is a pittance for people to be able to survive on. What planet are ministers on?
“If Boris Johnson really wants UK workers to follow the example of Germans and stay at home when ill he should be boosting sick pay – not taking an axe to it. The failure to provide decent sick pay to all is a threat to public health and will leave the UK vulnerable to future variants and pandemics.”
The TUC added that the changes to sick pay provision will affect 6.8 million employees who rely on SSP as their only form of support when ill.
A Government spokesperson said: “In the early stages of the pandemic, we needed people to self-isolate while protection was built up through our vaccination programme and we developed a range of new treatments. That’s why we made temporary changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to support people to follow Covid rules and keep others safe.
“It’s up to employers to determine their sick pay policies and many employers choose to pay more than the minimum level. But SSP should not be looked at in isolation.
“Government support through the welfare system, including Universal Credit, is also available for those on low incomes who need extra financial help when they are sick or incapable of work for longer periods.”
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader and shadow secretary of state for the future of work, said: “It is Labour policy to make statutory sick pay available to all workers, from day one, including those on low wages currently cut out by the lower earnings limit for eligibility and those that are self-employed. People should never be in a position where they are deciding between their health or putting food on the table.
“This Government has failed throughout the pandemic to fix sick pay. Their inaction and chaos is hurting working people.”
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