Job fears grow for millions as BA predict cuts and other workers face uncertain future

Fears are growing for the safety of millions jobs in the UK as the coronavirus outbreak worsens threatening tourism, fast food, retail and leisure sectors.  

British Airways today revealed coronavirus is threatening its very survival as staff were told there will be job cuts and aircrafts must be mothballed because of the ‘worsening’ global pandemic.    

It came after Norwegian Air said it would lay off around half of its 11,000 staff and cancel 4,000 flights as it struggles to stay afloat – but BA has yet to say how many workers they will let go. 

Workers left in the lurch took to Twitter to announce they had lost their jobs due to the outbreak. One woman from Scotland had been set to start a new job as an air steward with EasyJet but was informed her employment had been withdrawn. 

British Airways today revealed coronavirus is threatening its very survival as staff were told there will be job cuts and aircrafts must be mothballed because of the ‘worsening’ global pandemic

‘I was meant to start my new job as Easyjet Cabin Crew on Monday but I’ve just been told my employment has been withdrawn due tot he corona virus,’ she wrote. 

‘Does anyone know of any jobs in West Lothian, Edinburgh or Fife?’ 

A reporter for The Times detailed how she was trying to dissuade her chef flatmate, who had been ill, from going into work. ‘My flatmates have all been ill, and under new gov advice will have to stay home. 

‘One is feeling better and I’m trying to dissuade her from going back to work as a chef tomorrow. The catch? £18 a day sick pay if she stays home. Not enough to live on in London,’ she said. 

Another person said she was ‘officially panicking’ following the announcement of job cuts by British Airways. 

A zero-hour contractor took to Twitter to announce they had been left ‘essentially unemployed’ after their work closed indefinitely. 

Another commented: ‘Coronavirus and self employment where it’s your only source of income don’t mix well.’  

One woman said the virus’s impact on wineries and the tourism industries has ‘crushed’ any income she was going to make this month ‘and possibly next month’, alongside the hashtag ‘#cantaffordthis’. 

Heathrow saw a 4.8 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger numbers in February due to coronavirus, raising more concerns over job losses. 

Globally, the World Travel and Tourism Council is warning that up to 50 million jobs could be lost because of the pandemic. 

And in the UK alone there are fears an estimated 1.5million self-employed and gig economy workers could face financial ruin because of the deadly disease. 

Some delivering food, parcels or working in cafes, restaurants may avoid self-isolating if they have coronavirus symptoms because they fear going unpaid, unions have warned.

People on zero-hours contracts and other casual workers risk losing income and missing out on sick pay if they stay at home for the recommended two-week period. 

More than 4.7million people – or one in ten working-age adults – work in the gig economy, according to research published by the Trade Union Congress.

And Citizen’s Advice say that 1.5million of them – around one in three – don’t qualify for sick pay. 

It came as ministers warned that coronavirus could push more people into poverty unless the UK and Scottish governments protect low earners 

The GMB union revealed the case of a delivery driver who was forced to stay off work, unpaid, after coming in to contact with a customer considered to be high-risk.

Mick Rix, GMB’s national officer, said: ‘The threat of coronavirus is a huge problem for employers and worker across the UK.

‘But workers in the so-called gig economy, or on zero-hours contracts, are left abandoned and penniless if they have to self-isolate. Once again the bogus self-employment model is screwing over the disadvantaged.

‘GMB is calling on all employers – regardless of the contract – to do the right thing and pay their workers if they have to take time off due to the global health crisis.’

Some delivering food, parcels or working in cafes, restaurants may avoid self-isolating if they have coronavirus symptoms because they fear going unpaid, unions have warned

Some delivering food, parcels or working in cafes, restaurants may avoid self-isolating if they have coronavirus symptoms because they fear going unpaid, unions have warned

The Prospect Union has said self-employed people may have insurance they believe protects them – but pandemics may not be covered.

Mike Clancy, Prospect’s general secretary, said: ‘If people are losing their livelihoods because they are following the government’s advice then they must be compensated. That’s why we are writing to ministers to ensure they do what is necessary to support all workers.

‘The prospect of losing out financially cannot be allowed to become a factor in containing the spread of this disease. Through nobody’s fault this could become a public health emergency. There is no reason for it to also become an economic one.’

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said: ‘People shouldn’t feel scared about self-isolating because of money worries.

‘Employers who aren’t paying sick pay from day one risk having staff coming in – especially if they don’t have symptoms.’

Sick Britons will be able to get a doctors’ note simply by ringing 111 under radical anti-coronavirus measures unveiled by Rishi Sunak this week.

The Chancellor said that, for the first time, statutory sick pay of £94.25 a week would be allowed for those who self-isolate, whether or not they display any symptoms.

And he said the Treasury would fund the statutory sick pay costs of small businesses for up to 14 days.

Announcing the radical package, Mr Sunak said those who are self-employed or who work for the so-called ‘gig’ economy made up of firms such as Deliveroo and Uber will be able to apply for benefits to cover their losses taken by taking time off sick.

Dame Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: ‘The Chancellor’s decision to extend statutory sick pay to those self-isolating will be a relief to some workers.

‘But the self-employed and people in the 1.5 million jobs that don’t qualify for sick pay are still at risk of falling through the gaps if they become unwell.’

Rachael Maskell, Labour’s employment spokeswoman, who is herself self-isolating, said the sick pay changes were not enough.

‘The UK has one of the lowest rates of statutory sick pay in Europe, meaning there is a very real risk that people will still go into work when they are ill or have been advised to stay at home,’ he said.

‘Workers should not be put in the position of having to choose between health and hardship. The Government must ensure people are not punished for doing the right thing.’

It comes as amid calls for more action to reduce any impact the Covid-19 outbreak could have on people on low incomes and the self-employed. 

In letters to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and UK Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, chairman of the Poverty and Inequality Commission Bill Scott calls for more action to reduce any impact the Covid-19 outbreak could have on people on low incomes and the self-employed.

The commission, which gives independent advice to the Scottish Government on tackling poverty, has asked Ms Sturgeon what plans are in place if schools are closed and children are unable to receive free school meals.

In letters to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and UK Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, chairman of the Poverty and Inequality Commission Bill Scott (pictured) calls for more action to reduce any impact the Covid-19 outbreak could have on people on low incomes and the self-employed

In letters to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and UK Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, chairman of the Poverty and Inequality Commission Bill Scott (pictured) calls for more action to reduce any impact the Covid-19 outbreak could have on people on low incomes and the self-employed

Writing to Ms Coffey, Mr Scott urges her to extend statutory sick pay to those who earn less than £118 per week – estimated to be two million workers – and to the self-employed.

Mr Scott also issues a call for the UK Government to ‘immediately lift work search requirements’ as the outbreak could affect those needing to use public computers.

Commenting on the letters, Mr Scott said: ‘The coronavirus outbreak risks driving more people into poverty as those who are sick or self-isolating lose pay.

‘While I welcome the action that has been taken by the UK and Scottish governments so far, more action is needed to protect the self-employed and low earners, who are least likely to have savings to support them through loss of earnings or a waiting period for Universal Credit.

‘That’s why I wrote to Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey calling on her to extend statutory sick pay to the two million workers who earn less than £118 per week and to the self-employed.

‘Now that we have moved into the delay phase of the outbreak, I am also asking her to immediately lift work search requirements which may require people to use libraries and other communal settings in order to access a computer.

‘This would reduce the risk of people spreading coronavirus by complying with work search requirements.

‘I have also written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to ask what contingency plans are in place to ensure that children who would normally receive a free school meal will continue to have access to free meals if a decision is taken to close schools.’