ALP Coronavirus Support Page

Labour providers are playing a vital role in ensuring the supply chain has the workers it needs to keep the nation fed and supplied with essentials. ALP is fully committed to supporting our members and our industry by:

• Understanding and responding to impacts of virus across our sector and coordinating responses
• Publishing regular member updates and public guidance ensuring a clear, consistent message
• Directly engaging with government, trade bodies, retailers and other key contacts
• Agricultural labour providers – email info@labourproviders.org.uk to join our 1.30pm call on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• All ALP members – sign up here to join the Coronavirus Support Forum on Wednesdays at 3pm

Guidance and Resources

Recovery

1. OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy – which sets out the government’s roadmap to bring the UK out of Covid-19 lockdown.
2. National vacancies – Employers and recruiters should advertise vacancies at “Find a Job“. See Find a Job Guidance for Employers. Job seekers can search for jobs here.
3. Pick for Britain – Signposting UK resident workers to find seasonal agricultural jobs on farms. Growers and GLAA licensed recruiters can register jobs here. Job applicants can search available jobs here.
4. DWP Employer Help website – Help for employers with COVID-19 challenges. The website signposts employers to advice on best ways to support staff whether they are expanding rapidly, or worried about redundancies.
5. DWP Job Help website – Help for jobseekers on critical jobs to apply for now. Helps jobseekers find work in new areas with hints and tips on applying for jobs.

Public Health

1. All government guidance is available on the coronavirus pages of gov.uk including:
   • Staying alert and safe (Social Distancing)
   • Households with possible coronavirus
   • Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
   • Shielding and protecting extremely vulnerable people from COVID-19.
2. Posters, leaflets and other resources – to download or order from Public Health England’s’ Campaign Resource Centre
3. Tests – essential workers can book a COVID-19 test here, everyone else should book here. Employers can refer staff using an employer portal.  Accounts for this portal can be requested by emailing portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk or see separate guidance for Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland.
4. From 29 May, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus in England will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about the people they have been in contact with. People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, to stop unknowingly spreading the virus. Scotland has a similar approach named ‘Test and Protect’. Northern Ireland has been undertaking contact tracing for all confirmed COVID-19 cases since 15 May, and Wales is expected to launch its track and trace scheme in early June.
5. Closing certain businesses and venues – Government guidance on which businesses can open
6. ALP Risk Control Checklists for employers and labour providers collate the actions that government guidance requires businesses to put in place to ensure that workplaces are safe, covering:
   • Offices and Branches Risk Control Checklist – from government guidance for Offices and contact centres and Shops and branches
   • Factories, plants and warehouses Risk Control Checklist – from government guidance for Factories, plants and warehouses – See also additional government guidance covering Food businesses and workplace canteens
   • Outdoor Work Risk Control Checklist – from government guidance for Outdoor work – See also Best practices to avoid spread of COVID-19 for seasonal workers on fruit and vegetable farms
   • Vehicle working Risk Control Checklist – from government guidance for Vehicles including for couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and similar. Also government guidance on transport is available here and ALP has produced Providing safer transport to workers.
   • ALP Brief 232 – Potential Coronavirus Health and Safety Claims describes the type of claims employers and labour providers are at risk from if they fail to provide a Covid-19 safe working environment.
7. Travel – see travel advice pages and TravelHealthPro website and a Country-by-country breakdown of immigration restrictions and concessions linked to the coronavirus outbreak.
   • Arrivals from abroad from 8th June, are required to fill in a contact locator form to provide contact and travel information, and self-isolate for 14 days from arrival. Government has published a list of exemptions, including people arriving from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, road haulage workers and seasonal agricultural workers with an offer of employment for seasonal work to carry out specific activities in edible horticulture on a named farm. They can start work immediately but must self-isolate on the farm. They are able to mix with fellow workers
   • Charter Flights – see Information from Defra on PHE public health good practice on Charter Flights
8. ALP template employer and labour provider daily coronavirus check form.
9. Use of facemasks in enclosed public spaces is advised. Guidance on how to make a cloth face covering is also available.
10. Multiple cases of coronavirus within the same business – Contact the local Public Health office in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland who will advise on what further actions may need to be taken.

Support for Business

1. Government Covid-19 Support for Business area
2. Gov.uk includes an online tool to find what financial support may be available for your business.
3. Financial support for businesses includes:
   • Claim for wages for furloughed staff though the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
   • Businesses with less than 250 employees can claim for SSP though the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme.
   • Small and medium sized businesses can apply for financial support through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan or for Grant Funding Schemes.
   • Large businesses can apply for the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Scheme, or the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility.
   • Defer your VAT payments.
   • Prevent your business from being evicted.
   • Check if your business is eligible for business rates relief.
4. Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions, including helplines and webinars.
5. Case studies and blog posts about coronavirus business support.
6. Chartered Institute for Public Relations overview of company crisis communications
7. Department for Education coronavirus helpline – DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk 0800 046 8687 (8am-6pm Monday-Friday). This helpline will be able to advise on questions regarding apprentices in the workplace, as well as any education and children’s social care enquiries.
8. The Business Support website includes a list of businesses representative organisation and trade associations from a wide range of sectors, including ALP, many of which are providing sector specific guidance and Q&A alongside the information that is available on gov.uk.
9. Access additional resources from public bodies, organisations and charities.
10. HMRC has launched a tax helpline to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The number is 0800 0159 559.

Employment Guidance

1. Key workers critical to the Covid-19 response – Key workers critical to the Covid-19 response and template letter
2. Coronavirus related workplace scenarios – Quick reference guide for labour providers
3. Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Agency Workers – open ALP brief 223. Government guidance – How to work out 80% of your employees’ wages; Step by step guide to making a claim
4. The Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have published guidance for drivers who are regulated by EU or AETR drivers’ hours and tachograph rules, and mobile workers explaining how furlough interacts with activity recording and tachographs.
5. ‘Furlough Fixed Fee Service’ – JMW Solicitors LLP are offering ALP members a highly preferential rate of £295 (+VAT). This includes a discussion and advice around furlough generally, specific guidance and production of a bespoke furlough letter. See also Covid-19 Response Team and Resource Hub, CJRS support, Wills in a crisis.
6. Recruitment into UK Seasonal Agricultural work – ALP Summary Paper May 2020
7. Statutory Sick Pay – SSP for Agency Workers with Coronavirus – 20 April 2020
8. ALP Guidance on increased costs – Increased costs for the provision of labour during the Coronavirus Pandemic
9. ALP remote and safer interviewing guidance. See Home Office, Coronavirus (COVID-19): right to work checks
10. National Insurance number (NINo) applications have been suspended for approximately 3 months for work inspired applications because workers can start work without a NINO. There is more guidance for employers and applicants here and the gov.uk page for NINO will be updated to reflect these changes. Benefit inspired applications will be continuing by telephone rather than face to face.
11. Relaxation of driver hours for all sectors – The temporary relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales will expire on 31st May, and the relaxation of GB drivers hours rules will expire on 14th June.
12. Pay Advances, Employer Loans and the National Minimum Wage – HMRC guidance
13. Working Time Directive – Existing exemptions within the Working Time Regulations 1998 provide flexibility where the worker’s activities are affected by unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the employer’s control, or exceptional events the consequences of which could not have been avoided despite the exercise of all due care by the employer (regulation 21(e)). Where this applies, the requirements around rest breaks, daily and weekly rest and night work do not apply. However the employer must provide compensatory rest, or if this is not possible take other measures to ensure a safe working environment.’
14. Universal Credit and Benefits Claims – People can make applications for benefits online if they are eligible – https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit.
15. Workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual leave entitlement due to COVID-19 will now be able to carry it over into the next 2 leave years. The regulations will allow up to 4 weeks of unused leave to be carried into the next 2 leave years, easing the requirements on business to ensure that workers take statutory amount of annual leave in any one year.