The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is launching legal action against the government after believing that it is failing to protect the wages and job security of millions of UK employees during the Covid-19 outbreak.
According to IWGB, the government has failed to ensure the health and safety of workers employed through sick pay.
In a letter, being sent today, IWGB argues that the current Statutory Sick Pay, (currently standing at £94.25) is discriminative against women, Black, Asian and ethnic minorities, and workers in the gig economy, as the payments aren’t enough for these groups to survive, or available to certain workers in the gig economy.
Additionally, the union will argue that the 80% wage offered by the government (announced on Friday 20 March) discriminates against gig-economy and self-employed workers, who aren’t included in the new policy.
Dr. Jason Moyer-Lee, general secretary at IWGB, said: "Many low paid and precarious workers are on the front lines of this crisis distributing food, delivering medical samples, cleaning buildings and looking after children in need, yet they have the least protection. Many who become sick or need to self-isolate will receive little or no sick pay.
“Others who are laid off will not receive wage subsidies from the Government because they are not employees. No one wants to be litigating right now, but we also cannot stand by while our members are exposed to unnecessary risk or driven into destitution."