UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
09/03/2020
Call For Construction Sick Pay Changes Amid Coronavirus Fears
The ongoing spread of the coronavirus across the UK has sparked a call for more relaxed sick pay rules in the construction industry.
The government amended the rules of statuary sick pay (SSP) so that it is paid immediately if a worker is on sick leave rather than on the fourth day which is currently the case, in order to allow workers to self-isolate if they have symptoms of coronavirus.
In the construction industry when a worker is operating under a collective industrial agreement as well as SSP (worth just £94.25 a week), workers are also entitled to industry sick pay which can be up to an additional £180 a week.
However, 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 symptoms of coronavirus will not self-isolate, due to economic factors.
UK construction union Unite is urging employers to amend sick pay so that it is also paid from day one.
The union has written to the employers involved in the various industrial agreements including the Construction Industry Joint Council (for civil engineering), the Joint Industry Board (for electricians) the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), the Joint Industry Board: Plumbing and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVCA)/ Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) agreement.
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."
Unite national officer for construction (mechanical and electrical sector) Ian Woodland commented: "Construction employers must step up to the plate and take the responsible decision to start paying industry sick pay from day one.
"A failure to do so would demonstrate that construction employers are not genuine when they suggest they are serious in tackling coronavirus."
(CM/MH)
The government amended the rules of statuary sick pay (SSP) so that it is paid immediately if a worker is on sick leave rather than on the fourth day which is currently the case, in order to allow workers to self-isolate if they have symptoms of coronavirus.
In the construction industry when a worker is operating under a collective industrial agreement as well as SSP (worth just £94.25 a week), workers are also entitled to industry sick pay which can be up to an additional £180 a week.
However, 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 symptoms of coronavirus will not self-isolate, due to economic factors.
-- Advertisement --
UK construction union Unite is urging employers to amend sick pay so that it is also paid from day one.
The union has written to the employers involved in the various industrial agreements including the Construction Industry Joint Council (for civil engineering), the Joint Industry Board (for electricians) the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), the Joint Industry Board: Plumbing and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVCA)/ Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) agreement.
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."
Unite national officer for construction (mechanical and electrical sector) Ian Woodland commented: "Construction employers must step up to the plate and take the responsible decision to start paying industry sick pay from day one.
"A failure to do so would demonstrate that construction employers are not genuine when they suggest they are serious in tackling coronavirus."
(CM/MH)
Latest Construction News
05/02/2025
Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) and ECF, a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse, have selected Vinci as the preferred contractor for Phase 1 of Stockport 8, a £350 million residential development west of Stockport town centre.
The decision follows a competi
05/02/2025
Vistry Group has finalised contracts for a significant housing development in Hinckley, Leicestershire, securing outline planning permission to deliver 475 new homes in the area.
The development, located east of Stoke Road and north of Normandy Way in the town's northern region, has a projected val
05/02/2025
Wilten Construction has been awarded a second Design and Build contract at Gateway 14 by client Gateway 14 Ltd and Jaynic.
The project involves the development of a state-of-the-art, three-storey Skills and Innovation Centre spanning 35,000 sq ft in the heart of Gateway 14. Designed to achieve BREE
05/02/2025
Knowsley Council has approved a major housing development in Kirkby, giving the green light to 800 new energy-efficient homes in the town's centre.
The decision also secures £7.7 million in Section 106 contributions from developer Barratt David Wilson Homes, further boosting local investment.
The
05/02/2025
Keepmoat Homes has announced plans to invest over £50 million in three new housing developments across Calderdale, aiming to deliver more than 200 new homes.
The developments, undertaken in partnership with Calderdale Council, form part of the North Halifax Transformation Programme, a local authori
05/02/2025
Essential renewal work at Skerne Road level crossing in Driffield has been completed. Over a six-day period, engineers replaced decades-old equipment, installing a state-of-the-art operating system, replacing the level crossing deck, and resurfacing the road.
The newly installed operating system is
05/02/2025
Construction firm GRAHAM is currently carrying out essential restoration work at the National Railway Museum in York, replacing the Grade II listed roof structure at Station Hall.
Originally built between 1875 and 1877 as a goods station, Station Hall now houses the museum’s six royal carriages.
05/02/2025
Mezzanine floors are commonly associated with additional storage or expanded floor space, but did you know they can also have a profound impact on employee productivity and morale? At Doity Engineering, we specialise in designing and installing mezzanine floors for
05/02/2025
Construction work is commencing on a new solar array at Weeton Barracks in Lancashire that will generate over one third of the site’s energy needs.
The work has been funded under the British Army’s Project Prometheus, a scheme that is increasing renewable energy across the army estate through inst
05/02/2025
The regeneration of Hartlepool's waterfront has reached a significant milestone with a £631,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will support the development phase of the 'Tides of Change' project, aimed at transforming the visitor experience at the Museum of Hartlepool a
