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4 May 2020updated 06 Oct 2020 9:45am

Lunchtime summary: Unions slam government’s coronavirus guidance for businesses

By Samuel Horti

Draft government guidelines designed to get employees back to work have been criticised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which warns that the plans could put employees of risk.

The guidance is too vague, giving an “open goal” for the “worst of employers” who want to return to business as usual, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said. “We want to be able to recommend the government’s approach to safe working to our members and the wider workforce. As it stands, we cannot.” The TUC represents most trade unions in England and Wales.

Elsewhere, the head of the European Union’s disease prevention and control agency has suggested the UK is not yet past the peak of the virus, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed. “There are four countries where we see no substantial changes in the last 14 days: Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the UK,” Andrea Ammon said.

Her comments come off the back off falling death rates across most of Europe. France, Italy and Spain recorded fewer than 200 deaths yesterday.

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