{"id":21091,"date":"2020-04-28T12:14:59","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T11:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=21091"},"modified":"2020-04-28T12:15:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T11:15:00","slug":"resolve-confusion-now-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=21091","title":{"rendered":"Resolve confusion now call"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unite is urging the government to resolve a major discrepancy within the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s job retention scheme \u00e2\u20ac\u201c which could prevent thousands of workers from being furloughed.<\/p>\n

Unite has identified that the\u00c2\u00a0Direction\u00c2\u00a0under\u00c2\u00a0the Coronavirus Act which created the job retention scheme and the HMRC\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s guidance on who is eligible differ with regards to workers receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).<\/p>\n

The HMRC\u00c2\u00a0Guidance clearly says that workers who were placed on SSP can be furloughed. But the\u00c2\u00a0Treasury Direction\u00c2\u00a0under the Act\u00c2\u00a0says that workers receiving sick pay are not eligible to be furloughed.<\/p>\n

The difference between the\u00c2\u00a0Direction and the\u00c2\u00a0Guidance potentially affects workers who are suffering from Covid-19,\u00c2\u00a0are self -solating\u00c2\u00a0or are shielding\u00c2\u00a0because\u00c2\u00a0they,\u00c2\u00a0or\u00c2\u00a0a\u00c2\u00a0member of their household,\u00c2\u00a0has\u00c2\u00a0been instructed to\u00c2\u00a0because of a specific medical condition.<\/p>\n

Unite has written to the chancellor Rishi Sunak setting out its concerns on the matter. In the form of a pre-action legal letter\u00c2\u00a0<\/a>Unite state that\u00c2\u00a0if the issue is not quickly resolved then the\u00c2\u00a0union\u00c2\u00a0will have to\u00c2\u00a0take legal action on behalf of its members affected by this anomaly.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is vital that the confusion over who is entitled to enter the job retention scheme is quickly resolved,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 commented Unite assistant general secretary for legal services Howard Beckett.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe HMRC guidance is mostly straightforward and fair. The problem is that it seems not to be supported by the Treasury Direction.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Beckett believes that, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThousands of our most vulnerable members who have coronavirus type symptoms or are shielding are confused. The government has the ability to clarify this matter and ensure that all affected workers are fairly furloughed.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnite is hopeful that this is an error which can be easily remedied,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 but, Beckett warned, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnite will take\u00c2\u00a0steps\u00c2\u00a0to protect our most vulnerable members if action from the government is not matching its words.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n