PM unveils roadmap for reopening society and the economy

The Prime Minister has outlined a plan for both beating the virus and delivering the ‘first sketch’ of a roadmap for reopening society. Mr Johnson confirmed that, while those that can work from home should continue to do so, anyone that can’t, which includes those in construction and manufacturing, is actively encouraged to go to work but to avoid travelling on public transport where possible.

During the address to the Nation it was made clear that this is not the end of lockdown but the start of the Government‘s plan to ‘save lives and restore livelihoods’. Although small changes will be introduced over the coming weeks, these will be ‘conditional’ on keeping the rate of infection, or R number, below 1.0 and a new Covid Alert System will be used to indicate if that is being achieved.

Guidance on safer working for a range of working environments will be published this week and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) will review the Site Operating Procedures in light of any changes.

Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI Director-General, welcomed the changes for construction and manufacturing: “This is the start of a long process. It’s a glimmer of light in the new normal.”

The Government is also considering how to phase out the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, recognising the impact of a ‘cliff edge’ if it ends abruptly at the end of June 2020.

A CLC working group has made a number of recommendations to the Treasury on how it could be extended as a ‘work support’ scheme. This would allow work and training to be undertaken whilst the amount of support from Government is phased out gradually over the last six months of 2020. It is likely there will need to be continued support for employees in the extremely vulnerable category, including those shielding or with caring responsibilities.

The CBI has been lobbying Government to have the furlough scheme extended until the end of September. However the CBI said that there  is no intention for the Government to pay for jobs that have no future.