Covid inquiry to examine impact of 'broken sick pay' system on UK's preparedness for pandemic
The TUC is calling for the Covid inquiry to examine the impact of the UK's "broken sick pay" system on the country's preparedness for the pandemic.
The UK had the lowest rate of statutory sick pay among the OECD countries, leaving millions unable to access it.
This lack of decent sick pay left the country "brutally exposed" during the pandemic, according to the TUC.
The inquiry will take witness evidence from Tuesday 13 June.
Nearly a quarter of the UK workforce relied on statutory sick pay if they needed to self-isolate, with the lowest paid workers facing a drop in earnings of £418 if they had to self-isolate on SSP.
In 2019, sick pay was worth 18% of average earnings, compared to 34% when it was first introduced in 1983.
The Conservatives scrapped reforms that would have extended SSP to nearly 2 million low-paid workers who did not qualify for it, leaving the most financially insecure with no safety net.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said, "Many workers couldn't afford to self-isolate.
This pushed up infection rates, put a huge strain on our public services, and ballooned the cost of test and trace." The government's self-isolation support scheme was "beset with problems" and "poorly promoted," with six in 10 applicants being rejected.
A government spokesperson said, "In response to the pandemic the Government introduced a number of unprecedented measures to support individuals during self-isolation, including a temporary suspension to ensure that statutory sick pay was payable from the first day of work missed."
This lack of decent sick pay left the country "brutally exposed" during the pandemic, according to the TUC.
The inquiry will take witness evidence from Tuesday 13 June.
Nearly a quarter of the UK workforce relied on statutory sick pay if they needed to self-isolate, with the lowest paid workers facing a drop in earnings of £418 if they had to self-isolate on SSP.
In 2019, sick pay was worth 18% of average earnings, compared to 34% when it was first introduced in 1983.
The Conservatives scrapped reforms that would have extended SSP to nearly 2 million low-paid workers who did not qualify for it, leaving the most financially insecure with no safety net.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said, "Many workers couldn't afford to self-isolate.
This pushed up infection rates, put a huge strain on our public services, and ballooned the cost of test and trace." The government's self-isolation support scheme was "beset with problems" and "poorly promoted," with six in 10 applicants being rejected.
A government spokesperson said, "In response to the pandemic the Government introduced a number of unprecedented measures to support individuals during self-isolation, including a temporary suspension to ensure that statutory sick pay was payable from the first day of work missed."