Wales TUC: Insecure work linked to higher Covid mortality

• New analysis shows Covid mortality rates in insecure jobs have been twice as high as other occupations during the pandemic.
• New poll reveals insecure workers almost 10 times more likely to say they receive no sick pay at all compared to secure workers.
• The Wales TUC says insecure workers face “triple whammy” of a lack of sick pay, fewer rights and endemic low pay while having to shoulder more risk of infection.

The Wales TUC has today (Friday) released new analysis which shows that Covid-19 mortality rates across England and Wales during the pandemic have been twice as high in insecure jobs than in secure roles.

The analysis shows that:

• The Covid-19 male mortality rate in insecure occupations was 51 per 100,000 people aged 20-64, compared to 24 per 100,000 people in less insecure occupations.
• The Covid-19 female mortality rate in insecure occupations was 25 per 100,000 people, compared to 13 per 100,000 in less insecure occupations.

The union body has called for more detailed research on the links between precarious work and risk of infection and death.

Insecure workers account for one in nine workers – with women, disabled workers and BME workers more likely to be in precarious work.

Sick pay failing insecure workers

New polling, conducted by Britain Thinks, also shows that insecure workers are almost ten times more likely to say they receive no sick pay at all compared to those in secure work (67 per cent to seven per cent).

The UK currently has one of the lowest rates of sick pay in Europe and nearly two million workers, including many in insecure work, do not earn enough to qualify for it.

The Wales TUC is calling on the UK Government to increase Statutory Sick Pay (currently £96.35 a week) to at least the rate of the real Living Wage and make it available for all.

Wales TUC General Secretary Shavanah Taj said:

“No matter your race, gender, disability or background, everyone deserves fair pay and to be treated with dignity and respect.

“But during the pandemic, we’ve seen higher infections and death rates in insecure jobs.

“Too many workers are trapped on zero hours contracts or in other sorts of insecure work, and are hit by a triple whammy of endemic low pay, few workplace rights and low or no sick pay.

“Lots of them are the key workers we all applauded – like social care workers, delivery drivers and coronavirus testing staff. This must be a turning point.

“While the Welsh Government has sought to plug some of the gaps in support – through programmes like the Self Isolation Support Scheme and providing enhanced sick pay for care workers, it is only the UK Government that has the power to raise statutory sick pay to the level of the real Living Wage, and make sure everyone can get it – including those on zero hours contracts and other forms of insecure work.

“It is incredible that over a year into the crisis the UK Government still fails to recognise both the practical and moral case for fixing our broken sick pay system.”