Coronavirus lockdown: Business group calls for phased easing
I am increasingly clear in my mind that how we manage this will determine the medium term future of rural areas. With up to a third of the workforce furloughed in some rural places, unless an insightful approach is taken when these props are removed we will see mass unemployment and business failure. I wonder how many people in this period of the “phoney war” realise the threat around the corner. In the US where the state is not so benign 20 million people have registered for unemployment benefit over the last four weeks.
Ministers should immediately set out plans for a “carefully phased” lifting of the UK’s coronavirus lockdown, a business group has said.
“This is a time to be bold,” said the British Chambers of Commerce, adding high public spending should continue if needed to restart the economy.
Boris Johnson has said he will outline plans relating to schools, commuting and the workplace in the coming week.
But the PM stressed the UK must not “risk a second spike” in infections.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC that businesses could be asked to stagger employees working hours, once lockdown eases, to help prevent crowding on public transport.
“There are a series of different things that we can do including staggering work times, and we’re working with businesses and organisations to do that,” he said.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said business groups and major employers expect to receive draft guidance from the government on Sunday about the safe return to work when the lockdown eases.
In a letter to Mr Johnson, BCC president Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith said planning and communication of the government’s approach to leaving lockdown “must begin immediately if we are to harness the public health and economic benefits”.