‘Worrying cases’ of Leicester people forced to work in unsafe conditions, MP Claudia Webbe claims 

She wants urgent clearer guidance on what companies should be shutting down

Many workers in Leicester are being put at risk of contracting coronavirus because their bosses have kept non-essential businesses open, an MP has claimed.

Some firms in the city have temporarily ceased trading after the Government put the country on lockdown to try to slow the spread of Covid-19 by ordering that only key firms could stay open.

However, Labour Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe says she has heard anecdotal reports of staff being told to continue turning up to work when they should not be.

Ms Webbe did not name any particular firms but said: “I have received many worrying cases of what appears to be employer malpractice, where Leicester East residents are forced to work in unsafe conditions, often with no protective equipment, and little, or no hygiene facilities.

“This is happening in places where the nature of the work makes it impossible to socially distance.

“I am concerned, as a result, workers are not only being exposed to the risk of infection, but risk spreading coronavirus too travelling back home to their families and our communities.”

Ms Webbe added: “I have also heard repeated examples of non-essential businesses remaining open, employers not being willing to pay for employees to take time off from work to care for dependents or self-isolate.

“I have also heard of employees being laid off work because they are not being furloughed because they were not employed before the government’s target date of February 29, 2020.”

She said: “The Government urgently needs to provide clearer guidance on who should be working and who shouldn’t.

“No-one should be asked to work, putting themselves and others at risk, if they are not providing an essential function in this crisis.

“Too many are effectively forced to work due to concerns over the extent and timeliness of financial packages

“The continued failure of the government to guarantee a sufficient income for millions of people in this country is undermining our public health response to this pandemic.

“The Government must provide more specific guidance on what jobs are essential, and directly intervene if companies continue to operate against official instructions.

“I also urge the government to introduce strict and enforceable closure of all non-essential workplaces, unless safe working practices can be introduced.

“We are only as strong as our most vulnerable in society. It is time for the government to put public health over private profit by providing adequate protection for everyone.”

The MP said she had written to Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma urging him to strengthen the government’s guidelines for employers during the coronavirus crisis.

Claudia Webbe MP is the member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and twitter.com/ClaudiaWebbe