Fears over the coronavirus expose just what a disease the gig economy is

Millions of Britons don’t qualify for sick pay and may have little choice but to turn up for work even if they’ve potentially been exposed, writes James Moore

Gig economy workers will take no comfort from Matt Hancock’s assurances (Getty)

People who self-isolate over coronavirus will get sick pay, said the headlines. Health secretary Matt Hancock stepped up in the House of Commons to confirm that taking this step should be “considered as sickness for employment purposes”.

“It’s a very important message,” he said. And who could argue with that?

It came as US oil giant Chevron told a couple of hundred UK staff to work from home for the foreseeable future, an eminently sensible course of action for the company to take.