New emergency legislation

Employers and employees should be aware of this new emergency legislation which may be made into law by the end of March. 

The bill enables action in five key areas: 

• increasing the available health and social care workforce – for example, by removing barriers to allow recently retired NHS staff and social workers to return to work  
• easing the burden on frontline staff – by reducing the number of administrative tasks they have to perform, enabling local authorities to prioritise care for people with the most pressing needs, allowing key workers to perform more tasks remotely and with less paperwork, and taking the power to suspend individual port operations 
• containing and slowing the virus – by reducing unnecessary social contacts, for example through powers over events and gatherings, and strengthening the quarantine powers of police and immigration officers 
• managing the deceased with respect and dignity  
• supporting people – by allowing them to claim Statutory Sick Pay from day one, and by supporting the food industry to maintain supplies 

The proposals set out in the bill will significantly enhance the ability of public bodies across the UK to provide an effective response to tackle this epidemic.