Frontline workers should be paid a coronavirus allowance, says union

A special allowance should be paid to key workers employed in public services during the current coronavirus crisis, according to a leading trade union.
By Rebecca Marano
Published 2nd Apr 2020, 06:00 BST
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The GMB called for a coronavirus crisis allowance, as it released a study suggesting that three million workers do not earn the so-called real living wage, which is higher than the Government's statutory minimum rates.

Millions of frontline key workers, including care workers, hospital cleaners and porters, delivery drivers, nursery and teaching assistants, retail and pharmacy staff, received the new living wage rate of £8.72 an hour for adults, said the GMB.

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A survey of 2,000 people for the union showed that three out of four believed health workers and others in the frontline dealing with coronavirus should receive an additional payment for the work they are doing.

A special allowance should be paid to key workers employed in public services during the current coronavirus crisis, according to a leading trade union.A special allowance should be paid to key workers employed in public services during the current coronavirus crisis, according to a leading trade union.
A special allowance should be paid to key workers employed in public services during the current coronavirus crisis, according to a leading trade union.

Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: "This crisis has shown everyone just how crucial so many low paid workers are to our health, safety and wellbeing.

"Millions of frontline workers aren't paid enough to live on, but where would we be without them? Not just in this crisis, every single day of the year.

"When this is over, we need to have a national conversation about how we value the people who care for us.

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"But right now key workers are risking their health for the public good and they shouldn't be going home to their families with poverty pay in their purses and pockets. That's why we're calling for a coronavirus crisis allowance to be paid now - the vast majority of the public back GMB's call for this.

"This is about doing right by people who are putting themselves in harm's way to look after the rest of us."

The statutory rate for over-25s - the national living wage - went up from £8.21 an hour to £8.72 on Wednesday, while the national minimum wage went up from £7.70 to £8.20 for 21 to 24-year-olds, from £6.15 to £6.45 for 18 to 20-year-olds and from £4.35 to £4.55 for under-18s.

The hourly rate for apprentices increased from £3.90 to £4.15.

The new rates are still lower than the voluntary real living wage of £10.75 an hour in London and £9.30 outside the capital.

Related topics:GMBGovernmentLondon