The Coronavirus crisis has shone a light on the
inadequacy of Statutory Sick Pay says GMB
Union
GMB has branded the Government’s planned sick pay
rise of £1.60 a week as a ‘joke’
In an answer to Labour MP , [1] Government Minister
confirmed Statutory Sick Pay would be uprated from
its current rate of £94.25 per week to £95.85 a week from
6th April 2020 - an increase of just
£1.60.
This is only an already-planned inflationary rise,
not an intervention by the Government to make SSP work -
said himself that he couldn’t
live off SSP. [2]
According to research commissioned by the Department
for Work and Pensions, up to a third of workers who receive some
form of sick pay are wholly reliant on the Statutory Sick Pay
rate.
The furlough scheme and the self-employed support
scheme will provide for some workers, but not all employers and
workers are taking this scheme up or able to.
That leaves Statutory Sick Pay, which is equivalent
to around 20% of median weekly earnings.
Tom Warnett, GMB Political Officer,
said:
“We have supported the Government’s measures to
protect jobs and wages, which will help millions of
workers.
“But millions more will be relying on inadequate
levels of Statutory Sick Pay, leaving them with the choice
of putting bills on credit cards or continuing to work while
potentially carrying the virus. If people can’t afford to live on
SSP – and the Minister has admitted he couldn’t - how can they
afford to stay home?
A rise of £1.60 is an unfunny joke,
the Government has to address this as a
matter of urgency.
“It is not just in the interests of public health
now, it’s the right thing to do for the
future.”
, MP for Ilford
South, said:
“The Government is missing the opportunity to put
sick pay up to a level that doesn’t force people into poverty or
unsafely back into work when they are sick.
The Health Secretary said he couldn’t live off £94.
An extra £1.60 a week is not going to make a
difference. It’s time for the Government to get this
sorted.”
ENDS
Media enquiries: GMB Press Office
on 07958 156846 or at press.office@gmb.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
[1] https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&member=4829
