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Precarious Workers & COVID-19: here’s what we can still do

As workers who face a loss of pay due to COVID-19 here’s what we can still do

The collateral of COVID-19 falls heavy on workers. Employers are scaling down hours and operations and the government is urging people to work from home. But those who can’t work from home need an income, irrespective of the need to self-isolate. How can we get it?

This is becoming an unavoidable catastrophe for low-waged workers. Pubs and restaurants are grinding to a standstill. Hairdressing salons and high street stores are shutting shop.

We recently published the first of a series of advice on what to do if you are a precarious worker affected by the coronavirus.

The advice there was to speak to your colleagues, meet together, form your demand for decent sick pay, and take it to your boss with a plan of action if they refuse.

But things are moving fast, businesses are already closing their doors, and it may soon be impossible to meet your colleagues face-to-face and take action at work. So what now?

How to Tackle the Symptoms of Coronavirus at Work

How to Tackle the Symptoms of Coronavirus at Work

Fever, coughing, shortness of breath, by now it’s a well-known watchlist. But the websites don’t list the other type of Coronavirus symptom – shortness of cash, days without pay, financial anxiety.

The government says one in five workers may be affected. If you’re one of many workers in Scotland who can’t afford to be off work unpaid, there isn’t much time to devise a plan for when the virus visits.

Scotland has no National Wealth Service. Instead there are employers, who will be plotting to keep their costs down and their profits up by refusing sick pay when the virus infects their workforce. There may be no vaccination yet, but the government is promising cash injections to make up the shortfall of lost profits. So what can you do to get paid if and when the virus stops you working?

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