TUC right to call for an increase in sick pay even as coronavirus jobs crisis looms

More than four in ten workers would be plunged into financial crisis if forced to self-isolate. Given the government refuses to obey the law why should people staring down the barrel of bankruptcy or worse, asks James Moore

TUC leader Frances O'Grady is launching the first virtual congress (PA)

The TUC has taken the opportunity of the start of its first virtual congress to highlight one of the major holes in the effort to fight coronavirus.

More than 4 in 10 workers, according to a survey it commissioned from BritainThinks, would face severe financial hardship if forced to self-isolate for two weeks on Britain’s dismal statutory sick pay.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Ninety six quid a week isn’t enough to live on.