Boris Johnson has sparked anger from unions and fuelled requires improved sick pay charges after telling Britons to “be taught” from “disciplined” Germans by remaining off work when in poor health.
The prime minister’s feedback got here throughout a Downing Avenue press convention by which he introduced plans to elevate coronavirus restrictions and transfer in direction of the UK “residing with Covid”
Requested about his determination to finish Covid help packages and drive these sick with the virus to attend till the fourth day of their ilness earlier than they will declare statutory sick pay, Mr Johnson stated: “On this nation, I typically heard it stated over the past couple of years that we now have a behavior of going again to work or going into work when we aren’t effectively.”
“Folks distinction that with Germany as an illustration the place I’m informed they’re much extra disciplined about not going into work in case you are sick and I’m suggesting that’s one thing we might be taught.”
Union leaders had been fast to level out stark variations between the UK, which has one of many lowest sick pay charges in Europe, and Germany, which has among the many highest.
Unison normal secretary Christina McAnea stated: “Boris Johnson might be taught a lot from Olaf Scholz’s authorities. Sick staff in Germany obtain their full wages in the event that they’re poorly. Right here many staff are anticipated to outlive on lower than £96 per week or nothing in some circumstances.
“If the prime minister needs folks to do the fitting factor and keep residence to cease the virus unfold, fixing the UK’s busted sick pay system ought to be a prime precedence.”
Within the UK, staff are entitled to solely £96.35 per week in statutory sick pay. In Germany, staff obtain 100 per cent of their earnings for eight weeks..
Solely staff incomes at the very least £120 per week qualify for SSP within the UK, which Commerce Union Congress (TUC) analysis concluded left round 2 million low-paid staff, principally ladies, excluded from the profit.
In 2020, OECD evaluation additionally discovered that UK staff with Covid obtained the bottom charges of necessary SSP amongst member states.
Dan Shears, GMB nationwide well being and security director, stated: “Evaluating the UK to German staff is a nasty joke – German staff can afford to remain at residence when they should as a result of they’ve correct sick pay safety.
“Making this crass assertion similtaneously taking protections away provides insult to harm. Asking folks to train accountability while taking away a key office provision for them to try this simply reveals how incompetent this authorities is.
“The UK’s poverty statutory sick pay charges, among the many lowest in Europe, are a public well being hazard as staff can not afford to remain residence when they’re in poor health. The scenario will likely be made even worse in April when SSP is lower in actual phrases in opposition to a backdrop of rampant inflation. Restoring the three-day restrict is an act of nationwide self-sabotage. It’s time for wholesale reform of statutory sick pay charges.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
