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 the impact of the 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

All ALP members – sign up here to join the ALP Member Support Forum on the second Wednesday of each month at 3pm

Guidance and Resources

Public Health

1. All government guidance is available on the coronavirus pages of gov.uk and for the devolved administrations on:  Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland.  
2. Posters, leaflets and other resources – to download or order from Public Health England’s’ Campaign Resource Centre
3. Tests – all workers can book a COVID-19 test here. Employers can refer staff using an employer portal.  Accounts for this portal can be requested by emailing portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk. See more details for Test and Trace in England, Test and Protect in Scotland, Test, Trace Protect in Wales and Testing and Tracing for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland.
4. To assist NHS Test and Trace, businesses should keep a record of all staff, contractors and visitors for 21 days. This will be enforced in law for some industries such as hospitality, tourism and leisure, close contact services,  community centres and some workplace canteens.  Check ‘Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace’ for details.
5. The NHS Covid-19 app has launched in England and Wales to help control COVID-19 transmission alongside national and local contact tracing. There are a range of resources online, including: posters and a downloadable explainer pack; how to guides covering downloads and QR codes; an explainer video; and frequently asked questions.
6. ALP Brief 238 – Self Isolation for Agency Workers describes the legal responsibilities relating to self-isolation for workers, labour providers and labour users.
7. Information on current restrictions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
8. 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
   • Factories Plants and Warehouses Risk Control Checklist. See also additional government guidance covering Food businesses and workplace canteens
   • Outdoor Work Risk Control Checklist. See also Best practices to avoid spread of COVID-19 for seasonal workers on fruit and vegetable farms
   • Vehicle Working Risk Control Checklist. Also government guidance on transport is available here and ALP has produced Providing safer transport to workers.  Department for Transport has produced some new resources relevant to workers who are car sharing.
   • The Health and Safety Executive has published specific guidance for COVID-19 risk assessments including examples of specific hazards and corresponding controls.
   • ALP Brief 232 – Potential Coronavirus related 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.
9. www.foodfarmhelp.com– an industry collaboration website providing guidance, tools and case studies to help businesses in the food, agriculture and horticulture industries to better manage risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
10. Travel – see Country-by-country breakdown with advice about travelling abroad.
    • Government Safer air travel guidance for passengers and TravelHealthPro website
    • Arrivals from abroad are required to fill in a contact locator form  and self-isolate for 14 days from arrival unless travelling from one of the listed destinations. The list of exempted countries may be slightly different for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
    • Test to release for international travel allows arrivals into England from 15 December, to choose to pay for a COVID-19 test to reduce their self-isolation period after international travel.
    • Government has published a list of exemptions, including seasonal agricultural workers with an offer of employment for seasonal work to carry out specific activities in edible horticulture on a named farm. See Template exemption justification letter for seasonal agricultural workers.
    • From 30 October, transport operators are required to ensure that passengers travelling to England by sea, air or rail from outside the common travel area are provided with information about coronavirus, and related duties and public health guidance, at 4 stages of the passenger journey: at the booking stage, at check-in stage, notification 24 to 48 hours prior to departure to UK and on board the vessel, aircraft or train.
11. Different rules for wearing face coverings apply in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
12. ALP template employer and labour user coronavirus health questionnaire – to be used prior to interviews, new assignments, and as a daily health check form.
13. The COVID Fraud Hotline is open 24/7, 365 days a year on 0800 587 5030 or fill in the simple and secure anonymous form at Covidfraudhotline.org to report suspected fraudulent activity in relation to government coronavirus support schemes anonymously and free of charge.
14. The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website, gives small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.

Employment Guidance

1. Coronavirus related workplace scenarios– Coronavirus Scenarios – Quick Reference for Labour Providers
2. Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Agency Workers – open ALP brief 223. Government guidance – Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
3. Template Homeworking Policy and Procedure –  ALP Brief 226 April 2020
4. ALP Covid-19 Key Worker template letter
5. Template exemption justification letter for seasonal poultry workers.
6. Statutory Sick Pay – SSP for Agency Workers with Coronavirus Joint recruitment industry letter to the Financial Secretary, on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Impact – Extension of Coronavirus SSP Rebate Scheme
7. Find out about taxable expenses and benefits when they are paid to workers because of coronavirus and how to report them to HMRC.
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. Pay Advances, Employer Loans and the National Minimum Wage – HMRC guidance
11. 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.’
12. Universal Credit and Benefits Claims – People can make applications for benefits online if they are eligible – https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit.
13. ‘Redundancy Support Fixed Fee Service’ – JMW Solicitors LLP are offering ALP members a fixed fee package in relation to redundancy. Please email Paul.Chamberlain@jmw.co.uk.
14. New guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on the regulations and legal obligations of running testing programmes.

Government Support for Business

1. Government Covid-19 Business Support area including an online tool to find what financial support may be available for your business and case studies and blog posts about coronavirus business support.
2. OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy– which sets out the government’s roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the Covid-19 crisis.
3. Plan for Jobs – government has set aside up to £30bn for boosting the jobs market including: the Kickstart Scheme which subsidises jobs for young people and employer bonuses for hiring apprentices.
4. The Winter Economy Plan applies to all regions and nations of the UK, and includes the New Payment Scheme which gives businesses who deferred their VAT bills the option to pay back in smaller instalments and extensions of time to pay for self-assessment tax, VAT and government loan schemes.
5. 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.
6. A list of the rules that have been temporarily relaxed to make it easier for businesses to continue working through the disruption caused by coronavirus, including changes to annual leave, and right to work checks and applications for National Insurance Numbers.
7. Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions, including helplines, webinars and training.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Access additional resources from public bodies, organisations and charities.
11. HMRC tax helpline to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The number is 0800 0159 559.
12. The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website, gives small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.