UK on lockdown but construction sites stay open
Boris Johnson has announced a nationwide lockdown to try and slow down the spread of Coronavirus, but construction sites are to stay open…for now.
Johnson addressed the nation last night ordering people to stay at home and told nonessential shop owners to immediately close their stores. He said people will only be allowed to leave their homes for a handful of reasons including “traveling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.” However, the Prime Minister didn’t make it clear for the millions of construction workers who are unable to work at home. A total confusion meltdown ensued amongst the industry last night. With many government ministers giving conflicting advice for construction. One social media user said: “It says you have to social distance at work but how can ya do that if your on-site, we work literally right next to each other?” In a bid to give clarity to the situation The Construction Leadership Council and Build UK have this morning briefed the industry. They have stated, “There has been no specific instruction to shut construction sites.” The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is meeting this morning; however, it is not a regulatory or enforcement body with the power to instruct sites to close. CLC Co-Chair Andy Mitchell says: “We are in exceptional circumstances, and doing our utmost to keep construction sites operational wherever it is practical and safe to do so. Whilst the guidance from Public Health England may change in future, for the time being construction sites of any size that are operating during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection. “To implement the Government’s social distancing recommendation the Construction Leadership Council has now published Site Operating Procedures. I would strongly recommend that these procedures are implemented by every operational construction site, with the aim of us having a standard approach across the industry that all firms and workers can adopt. “It is also vital that the health and safety requirements of any construction activity must not be compromised at this time. If an activity cannot be undertaken safely due to a lack of suitably qualified personnel being available, or social distancing being implemented, it should not take place. We are aware that emergency services are also under great pressure and may not be in a position to respond as quickly as usual.”Government must extend wage support for self-employed as layoffs look likely
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: “The UK’s bricklayers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers will be deeply worried that if they are officially self-employed they will not be protected by the government’s scheme. “Most construction workers are the primary breadwinners in their family and swift action is needed to ensure that they are protected throughout the coronavirus crisis. “Over 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. “In 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 government’s wage support scheme and Unite will be lobbying government to ensure that occurs. “In 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.”Leading industry trade bodies issue Coronavirus Briefing
Introduction
This short briefing has been prepared on behalf of the UK construction sector to brief companies and individuals on the ongoing repercussions of the Covid-19 coronavirus for our sector.
Government Advice
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has updated its guidance for employers, employees and businesses during the pandemic – to read it, click here.
Covid-19: Cross-Industry Response
The Association for Consultancy & Engineering, Build UK, Chartered Institute of Building, CITB, Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Plant-Hire Association, Construction Products Association, Federation of Master Builders, and Institution of Civil Engineers are working together to respond to Covid-19. Initial priorities for the group include:
- Guidance on responsibly maintaining site operations
- Guidance on employment issues including statutory and industry sick pay
- Guidance on commercial and contractual issues where work is suspended
- Publication of regular newsletters for the industry to brief on Covid-19 issues
- Support for apprentices – CITB is assessing what support is needed to ensure it secures the future for any impacted apprentices.
- Signposting for employers – CITB is working with federations and employer bodies to compile a list of support agencies that will advise on staff issues, and other business support, including sick pay.
- Guidance for keeping sites working – CITB will publish Toolbox Talks and other learning materials to help keeping sites running during this pandemic.
- Time-bound qualifications and cards – card schemes are urging site managers to show appropriate lenience to those with cards expired from mid-March, and have relaxed renewal windows. CITB has waived some of the fees for rescheduling or cancelling HS&E tests and for the duration of the crisis will accept SSSTS and SMSTS renewals beyond expiry.
- Government to ask all public sector construction clients to continue to pay their contractors and supply chains
- Government to ensure all construction sites throughout the UK are able to remain open, as long as they are able to do so responsibly
- Government to consider implementing financial measures, such as the deferral of VAT and PAYE payments, that will reduce the burden on business and keep cash moving as long as possible.
- A grant of up to £50,000 to SMEs in our sector to enable them to meet the digital requirements of working from home to be spent on hardware and specialist software.
- Acceleration of the pre-construction phase of Government programmes, including schools, hospitals and roads, to mitigate the downturn in private sector work, and help projects become shovel-ready sooner.
- Turning the high-level commitment of an “infrastructure revolution” into a reality with a clear published pipeline of projects in the Autumn to stimulate the wider economy and generate business confidence.
- Providing tax incentives for the housebuilding sector and further city deals to devolved Mayors to encourage private sector development.
- Investment in Future of Consultancy demonstrator projects, £1 million seed-funding towards the business case and wider funding for R&D and innovation. All of which will ensure the entire sector is more robust going forwards.
Scaffolding Association reaches 400 member milestone
The scaffolding trade association has topped 400 members
The largest UK scaffolding trade body SA based in Worcestershire has announced its membership growth has continued steadily so far this year which now stands at just over 400. Its membership is represented by scaffolding contractors, suppliers, service providers and designers, it says. The trade body has seen particular growth amongst contractors with the number of its Assessed and Audited members increasing. Stacey Underhill, Head of External Affairs at the Scaffolding Association said: “It’s been an exciting time for us as an association!”The first quarter of this year has seen a record number of membership enquiries, and our membership numbers are well in excess of 400. This really reinforces our reputation as being an approachable and inclusive organisation that is accessible to the whole of industry.”
The work that we’ve been undertaking to support our members and ensure that they are being represented within the industry is being recognised and that is reflected in the recent growth that we have seen. We’re clearly seeing the impact of the work we’ve been doing amongst key industry stakeholders as more and more clients specify Scaffolding Association Audited Membership for their supply chain.”
Underhill concluded: “We’re proud to be building a membership that consists of businesses who are eager to demonstrate their levels of professionalism and their commitment to raising safety standards.”
CISRS issues statement on Coronavirus
CISRS has issued an official statement after training centres across the country start to cancel or reschedule courses.
The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) who are now working from home have issued a Coronavirus update to its approved training establishments. They say they are looking to support both candidates and training providers during the Coronavirus outbreak. But ultimately the decision to close centres around the UK rests with the providers. However, CISRS says this decision may be taken out of providers hands if the Government imposes stricter measures. “It is difficult to envisage the disruption this virus will cause,” says CISRS but they have stressed it’s taking a pragmatic approach to issues that may arise. Giving an example If a core scheme course Part 1, 2, Advanced is ended prematurely, e.g. after 6 days we would not expect the person to repeat the full course, CISRS explained. If someone’s card expires as their CPD course is cancelled we will ask them to contact the CISRS Administrator [email protected] with details of the cancelled booking and we can provide them with a letter confirming qualifications and asking for them to be allowed to work until they are able to renew their cards after completing the rescheduled course. As the situation is changing constantly, rather than try to pre-empt situations, we will deal with issues on a case by case basis, where a certain approach and solution becomes the standard response, it would then be rolled out to all providers and delegates, ensuring fair treatment for all, CISRS said in the statement.CISRS Audits
According to the scheme, its Audits are still going ahead in the UK but its overseas centre audits are beginning to be severely affected. They are granting accreditation extensions to those training providers approaching its expiry dates.NOCN Scaffold Card Providers
It’s reported that NOCN staff are working as usual and are putting contingency plans in place should they move to home working which will again allow the service to continue. Going forward CISRS say that phones are currently unmanned but are looking to redirect calls to mobile as soon as possible and normal service should remain in place. CISRS have asked to be contacted by email at this time to assist contact: [email protected] For card application issues contact the CISRS Helpline on 0844 8157223 or [email protected] For delegates concerned about course cancellations/rescheduling please contact your provider directly, CISRS concluded.Construction leaders urge PM to keep sites open
Leaders from the industry have urged the Prime Minister to keep construction sites open or risk thousands of job losses
The Construction Leadership Council sent a letter yesterday to the Prime Minister urging him to support the construction sector. They say the constriction industry is a critical part of a functioning UK economy which employs around 3.3 million people 40% of which are self-employed. An imposed “lockdown’ as seen in other countries would trigger many thousands of job losses and closure of many firms. Leaders have asked the PM to keep construction sites open for as long as responsibly justified during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Council has also urged the Government to consider a cash bridge deferring VAT and PAYE payments to ease the burden on business and keep cash moving as long as possible. And to instruct all public sector construction clients to continue to pay their contractors and supply chain.
“As an industry, we are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in workload that might result from an enforced shut down of sites and projects. This is due to the number of self-employed workers (approaching 40% of people working in construction), the vulnerable cash position of over 210,000 SME businesses and the operational requirements of delivering large and complex construction and infrastructure projects,” Andy Mitchell Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said in the letter.
“Should the coronavirus cause a ‘shut down’ of the construction sector, we will face unprecedented challenges that we know from previous downturns will cause many companies and individuals to face significant financial repercussions. Many construction companies will not have enough cash available to continue to pay suppliers and wages, even if there is a relatively limited period of economic inactivity.”
“Our requirement is that we are able to keep our construction sites operational during this time, in order to avoid many thousands of job losses, the closure of thousands of businesses and delays and cost increases on crucial programmes and projects.
“If construction activity comes to halt, given the scale of employment provided by our sector, there would be an immediate need for the Government to provide emergency financing to keep the construction industry operational and prevent irreversible damage to the economic security of millions of people. To minimise the requirement for any Government support, it is critical that our supply chain is able to stay in place and keep working as long as is possible – and that will in turn maintain readiness and help to drive recovery efforts.”
Read the letter to the PM here. CITB close all Construction Colleges
The CITB has closed down all its National Construction Colleges with immediate effect in a coronavirus precaution
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced its National Construction Colleges (NCCs) in Norfolk, Kent, the Midlands and Inchinnan will close on Friday 20 March, with training cancelled with immediate effect to enable arrangements for learners to return home. CITB has said its current and advance-booked courses during the closure can be rescheduled or refunded. CITB will be contacting all affected learners and employers to make arrangements. As with other colleges across the country, the NCCs will remain closed until further notice. The training board has also cancelled all its upcoming Employer Roadshows.Tax helpline set up to support businesses and self-employed
A new HMRC helpline has been launched to help businesses and the self-employed concerned about paying their tax due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The helpline allows any business or self-employed individual who is concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus to get practical help and advice. HMRC say up to 2,000 experienced call handlers are available to support businesses and individuals when needed. Callers if managing to get through to the helpline will be able to discuss agreeing on an instalment arrangement and suspending debt collection proceedings. Callers will also be able to discuss cancelling penalties and interest where they have administrative difficulties contacting or paying HMRC immediately. The helpline number is 0800 0159 559 Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 8am to 4pm. The helpline will not be available on Bank Holidays, HMRC has said.Scaffolding trade body issues advice on Coronavirus
NASC’s boss has issued scaffolding-related advice on the anticipated impact of the Coronavirus to businesses
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation’s managing director Robin James has issued advice and resources on dealing with the forthcoming impact of Coronavirus on the industry. James stated “These are very challenging times” in an email addressed to its members. “The situation and corresponding guidance from the Government and other parties is changing day by day.” Within the mass email, the industry trade body has gathered a list of links to help scaffold businesses through the pandemic. NASC’s Contracts Committee also and supplied a small question and answer section on dealing with scaffold inspections and if/when sites are shutdown. The email contained the following:Links
- For a legal guide to coronavirus and construction contracts click here.
- For government advice for employers and businesses click here.
- For government support for employers click here.
- For government advice for employees click here.
- For NHS advice relating to personal health click here.
- For Build UK’s statement on the impact on the construction industry click here.
