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
• Agricultural labour providers – email info@labourproviders.org.uk to join our 1.30pm call on Thursdays
• 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

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. Plan for Jobs – government has set aside up to £30bn for boosting the jobs market including job retention bonuses for employers bringing back furloughed workers, government subsidised jobs for young people and employer bonuses for hiring apprentices.
3. 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.
4. 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.
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. DWP Job Help website–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 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 or see separate guidance for Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland.
4. Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted 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. 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.
5. The COVID-19 contain framework sets out how local authorities and national government will work together to effectively target local interventions while seeking to avoid a return to a national lockdown.
6. Government guidance on which businesses can open in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
7. 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 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.
8. Travel – see Country-by-country breakdown with advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.
   • Government Safer air travel guidance for passengers and TravelHealthPro website
   • Arrivals from abroad 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 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. See Template exemption justification letter for seasonal agricultural workers.
   • Self -isolation is not required for passengers returning or visiting from listed destinations. The list of exempted countries is slightly different for Scotland.
9. In England, you must wear a face covering by law in NHS settings, on public transport and in indoor transport hubs, shops and supermarkets, banks and post offices and indoor shopping centres. From 8th August, this list will be expanded. People are strongly advised to wear face-coverings in enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
10. ALP template employer and labour provider daily coronavirus check form.
11. 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. COVID-19 early outbreak management information has been created to make sure that people who run businesses or organisations: know how to recognise and report an incident of coronavirus and are aware of measures local health protection teams may advise in order to contain it. The information is contained within ‘action cards’ that have been designed for specific situations where an outbreak could occur, including in shops and branches, food manufacturing and outdoor work.

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.
   • Prevent your business from being evicted.
   • Check if your business is eligible for business rates relief.
   • If you’re a VAT registered business, check if you can temporarily reduce the rate of VAT on supplies relating to hospitality, accommodation, or admission to certain attractions.
4. 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.
5. Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions, including helplines, webinars and training.
6. Case studies and blog posts about coronavirus business support.
7. Chartered Institute for Public Relations overview of company crisis communications
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 has launched a 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.

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 – Coronavirus Scenarios – Quick Reference for Labour Providers
3. Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Agency Workers – open ALP brief 223. Government guidance – Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
4. ‘Redundancy Support Fixed Fee Service’ – JMW Solicitors LLP are offering ALP members a fixed fee package in relation to redundancy:
   1. Initial call (not time-limited) to advise on redundancies – excludes collective redundancy consultation advice
   2. Provision of template draft letters for a standard redundancy consultation process, including a termination letter (excludes collective redundancy consultation documentation) – bespoke drafting excluded
   3. The provision of a template settlement agreement – bespoke drafting/negotiation excluded
   Fixed fee for 1 and 2 – £650 plus VAT. For 1, 2 and 3 – £950 plus VAT. Please email Paul.Chamberlain@jmw.co.uk.
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 flexible furlough generally, specific guidance and production of a bespoke flexible 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 – 3 August 2020. Joint recruitment industry letter to the Financial Secretary, on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Impact – Extension of Coronavirus SSP Rebate Scheme
8. Find out about taxable expenses and benefits when they are paid to workers because of coronavirus and how to report them to HMRC.
9. ALP Guidance on increased costs – Increased costs for the provision of labour during the Coronavirus Pandemic
10. ALP remote and safer interviewing guidance. See Home Office, Coronavirus (COVID-19): right to work checks
11. National Insurance number (NINo) applications have been suspended for approximately 3 months for work inspired applications because workers can start work without a NINO. Workers can currently only apply for a National Insurance number in England, Scotland and Wales if they have entered the UK on a visa. You cannot apply for a National Insurance number in Northern Ireland. There is more guidance for employers and applicants here.
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.