Window cleaners: Can window cleaners still work?
WINDOW cleaners are amongst the thousands of people who can't conduct their business from home during the coronavirus lockdown, with many now unsure as to whether they can continue to work or not. Can window cleaners still work?
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Window cleaners and people who must conduct their work in person may find particular difficulty during the COVID-19 UK outbreak, with the government's measures firmly clamped on millions of people. Those able to continue face-to-face work have found themselves among "essential" workers, but many people are unclear as to where their position belongs.
Can window cleaners still work?
The government's "essential" criteria applies to people who provide vital public services, such as emergency personnel, postmen and supermarket staff.
Among those vital services are people in public works, including tradespeople, a group which includes window cleaners.
Speaking after the government announced "essential" jobs last week, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon encouraged tradespeople to continue on the job as it "can be good for the community".
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The government has concurred, as long as those working on or in people's homes adhere to current social distancing rules.
They said: “Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms.
“Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a two-metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.
“No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so."
“In such cases, Public Health England can provide advice to tradespeople and households.
“No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.”
While tradespeople can continue to work, self-employed people are yet to see any financial assistance despite many needing to close shop.
The government is now poised to announce a new benefit for business owners.
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Rishi Sunak will announce the new measures for self-employed people later today.
He previously said drawing up plans for funding had proven "incredibly complicated".
The particulars of the new plans will come later on and follow similar measures to cover furloughed workers.
Last week the Chancellor unveiled plans to cover 80 percent of people's salaries if they risk losing their jobs because of government coronavirus measures.
Currently, self-employed workers are reliant on government benefits such as Universal Credit or Statutory Sick Pay.
However, many insist the money isn't enough to cover their income loss.
Dr Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "For many people that have seen their businesses disappear in the blink of an eye, things like statutory sick pay or universal credit just isn't enough.
"It doesn't need to be perfect - we just need a system in place."