The impacts of COVID on the UK economy has been extensively reported. However, in such conversations, the inconveniences faced by consumers have been unfairly prioritised over discussions about the shocking conditions under which British ‘essential workers’ have had to work.
As of June 2020, the UK economy had encountered its worst crash in over 40 years. Limited consumer spending due to the lockdown has been one of the major causes of the economy’s ill health. While, the health of the economy cannot compare to the safety and wellbeing of UK citizens, it’s also important to note that an unstable economy will first and foremost affect the working class, who are at its mercy. Therefore, while COVID doesn’t present a financial disaster for the economy itself, the many fluctuations in the economy (and the incompetency in the government’s handling of economic matters) have been disastrous for many working-class families.
Even social attitudes toward certain workers have changed. People who work in professions such as retail, farming, garbage-collecting (all professions which were previously seen as ‘unskilled labour’) are now being labelled as essential- and thus more respectable. Yet, in practical terms, little has changed for such ‘essential workers’. Many are content with clapping for the NHS from the safety of their homes, but this act of public appreciation has not translated into improved funding for British healthcare. In fact, more than 600,000 jobs have been lost during the lockdown as of June 2020, and an estimated 6mil more could be lost in the future if the lockdown continues. Overall, lockdown has brought extremely harsh financial consequences for workers, particularly those in ‘blue-collar’ jobs.
On the surface, it appears that some progress has been made for disabled workers. Studies show that 15% of the global population has some form of disability, which highlights the importance of talking about this issue. However, according to the BBC, only 4% of global businesses have prioritised making their work conditions more accessible for disabled workers prior to lockdown. It is important to note, however, that under the current lockdown, companies have been forced to comply with isolation protocols, which required them to increase accessibility to all workers, disabled or not. These changes should not be seen as ‘progress’- instead, they can be seen as mere ‘trends’ which will crumble once pre-lockdown standards return. Though UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has publicly reiterated the need to ‘place people with disabilities at the centre of COVID-19 response and recovery efforts’, the British government’s actions have been weak in terms of implementing any such measures.
The British national lockdown has evidently created more advantages for workers than disadvantages. The issue is that these advantages, despite assurances of MPs and businessmen, will not last long enough to be significant. Few of the changes we’ve had to adopt during this time of crisis will continue to benefit the working class when the crisis is over. Though, given that the crisis is still ongoing, there is a possibility that workers may yet be able to demand more security for themselves.
As of October 2020, the U.K is still not out of the woods. Given that the crisis is ongoing, there is a possibility that workers may yet be able to demand more security for themselves. As workers move forward into a post-COVID era, they must decide if they will continue tolerating the treatment they’ve been subjected to for the past few months.
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