THE deputy general secretary of the STUC has voiced “frustrations” about what is being done about workplace coronavirus rule breaches.
Dave Moxham said unions are receiving significant volumes of reports from employees about conditions in their workplaces.
Only key workers like garage staff, railway workers and medics are exempt from work-from-home edicts aimed at cutting off Covid-19.
The designation also extends to some call centre workers deemed to be carrying out business-critical functions. This week research from Strathclyde University revealed how fewer than 20% of Scots call centre staff believe they really are carrying out essential work. Just one third said social distancing is being carried out successfully at their site.
Moxham said the STUC is “getting massive, massive feedback” from those affected by the matter.
But he said: “We have had some frustrations about who actually is meant to be investigating and enforcing and whether anybody actually is. There are lots and lots of people who are completely and utterly ignoring the guidance and it’s unclear how that’s being enforced.”
This week The National revealed how a Glasgow call centre run by media giant Sky had been reported to the police by Ivan McKee MSP – Scotland’s Trade Minister – over operations there. Staff said desks were under two metres apart and social distancing was not being enforced – something denied by the corporation.
READ MORE: MP's anger after Sky bosses 'dismiss staff coronavirus concerns'
Glasgow City Council confirmed Police Scotland referred the matter on to it as the relevant authority, saying: “Officers have given the business advice on appropriate social distancing”.
Fiona Richardson, chief officer of Trading Standards Scotland, said it is currently not possible to say how many such referrals have been made across the country. However, she said one local authority team expects to spend 80% of its time on coronavirus cases and police, environmental health and trading standards officers will use an “explain, engage, encourage and enforce” approach.
She said: “Contact would be made with any business where concerns have been raised and there would be discussions on social distancing. The officers would offer advice and ask to be informed of further improvements, should any be needed.
For businesses that continue to cause concern, officers would consider the application of health and safety legislation and where appropriate pass the details to the Health and Safety Executive. Should the local authority environmental health service be the responsible enforcement regulators, then the local authority officers would visit to assess compliance.
“If anyone wishes to report issues they should contact their local authority.”
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