This comes off of last weeks announcement that employed workers may receive up to 80% of their monthly salaries, up to £2500 per month if they are not allowed or able to work. The Chancellor is is trying to incentivise business owners to keep people on payroll rather than laying them off. As a result the chancellor is now receiving a great deal of pressure to consider applying this new support to the UK's 5 million self-employed.
The Independent Workers of Great Britain union says the exclusion of the self-employed from Friday’s promise amounts to discrimination and is a risk to public health. On Monday its lawyers, Leigh Day, will send a pre-action letter ahead of issuing proceedings for a high court judicial review. It also argues that the sick pay is too low for many employees.
