How the coronavirus could leave gig economy workers 'abandoned and penniless'
"Some of my colleagues are the only breadwinners. We can't afford half a month's wages to disappear."
Britain today unveiled its “battle plan” to tackle the spread of coronavirus, warning that as many as a fifth of employees could be off work at the peak of the outbreak.
However, for the UK’s gig economy workers, taking as many as 14 days off work may not be an option.
Workers in the gig economy on zero-hours contracts are being "abandoned" and left penniless if they have to self-isolate for a fortnight because of the threat of coronavirus, according to trade union GMB.
“We can’t afford half a month’s wages to disappear,” says Ed Cross, a driver with courier firm Hermes. “If you’re lucky you have the savings, but once they’ve gone we have nothing.”