Sunday, August 31, 2025
16.2 C
London

The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008ย  |ย  U.K. Edition

Government must extend wage support for self-employed as layoffs look likely

- Advertisement -

Unions are urging the government to extend its Coronavirus wage support scheme to help the millions of self-employed construction workers.

On Friday the Chancellor announced the government would pay up to 80% of employees wages to help firms avoid laying off its staff, however, self-employed workers are not eligible to the support lifeline.

There is a growing concern within the industry that millions of those that are self-employed will be thrown to the dogs and laid off. Another concern is that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will enforce a full country lockdown, instantly closing construction sites as cases of COVID-19 rise.

Unite is urgently calling on the government to do more and support the self-employed during the Coronavirus crisis. The union warned its already seeing a reducing number of workers employed on construction sites around the country.

A Freedom of Information request found that around half of the entire construction workforce is paid via the CIS scheme or via umbrella companies.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: โ€œThe UKโ€™s bricklayers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers will be deeply worried that if they are officially self-employed they will not be protected by the governmentโ€™s scheme.

โ€œMost construction workers are the primary breadwinners in their family and swift action is needed to ensure that they are protected throughout the coronavirus crisis.

โ€œOver half of the industry is officially self-employed, with most of those bogusly self-employed. This is part of the hire and fire culture existing in construction which results in workers being dumped without warning or compensation during downturns.

โ€œIn the short term the million-plus workers paid via the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and the 300,000 plus workers paid through umbrella companies must be brought into the scope of the governmentโ€™s wage support scheme and Unite will be lobbying government to ensure that occurs.

โ€œIn the long term, a commission is needed into construction employment to ensure that workers who survive on a feast and famine existence secure proper employment protections.โ€

- Advertisement -

Popular Categories

Most Read >

Game changing UK-First in Scaffolding Innovation under the Forth Road Bridgeย 

Layher pioneers its advanced cantilever technique with Hardrock Scaffolding...

SMART Scaffolder to unveil new mobile app at ScaffEx25

SMART Scaffolder will launch its latest mobile app, SMART...

Scaffolding design platform ScaffPlan to feature at Trimble event

ScaffPlan, the scaffolding design and management platform, is set...

Scaffolders Could Down Tools in Heatwave Under New HSE Proposals

Scaffolders could be given the right to stop work...

NASC and SAIA Join Forces to Elevate Global Scaffold Standards

The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) and the...
- Advertisements -

Related Articles >

Drax Shutdown Workers Receive Bonus Pay

Unite, the union, has successfully secured enhanced bonus pay for over 500 engineering and construction workers employed at the Drax power station.ย  The workers are contracted through Drax contractors Altrad and TEI. Under the newly...

Latest Topics

Shaun Ryder tipped as VIP guest at ScaffEx25 awards

Musician Shaun Ryder is rumoured to be among the...

Leachโ€™s secures exclusive deal to supply Staht Digital Pull Testers to Scaffolders

Leachโ€™s has signed an exclusive agreement to supply Stahtโ€™s...

Game changing UK-First in Scaffolding Innovation under the Forth Road Bridgeย 

Layher pioneers its advanced cantilever technique with Hardrock Scaffolding...

Scaffolders take on 50-mile run to help colleagueโ€™s baby daughter

Two scaffolders from Northamptonshire are preparing to run an...
- Advertisement -