The Scottish Government in March announced a £350million COVID-19 support package to help those in need and protect the health, welfare and well-being of the people of Scotland. To qualify for financial support you must receive a benefit. This conditionality excludes the majority of Scottish employees from claiming aid. This new petition is calling for the Scottish Government to make the fund accessible to all employees in Scotland who have experience a loss of income as a result of self-isolating

Test and Protect requires people to self-isolate for a period of two weeks; the equivalent of ten working days. Many employers only pay Statutory Sick Pay, £93 per week. For many employees this is a stark reduction in wages, and if you are not in receipt of or rely on state support you cannot access the fund. This disadvantages the people that the fund was set up to support. Only 4% of the Scottish adult population qualify for the grant!

Politicians have acknowledged that people have made enormous sacrifices for the sake of suppressing the virus, and that what the electorate wants from the Government is practical, easily accessed support. This is not what the self-isolation support grant offers. It proffers no benefit or help to the average working person and family, and shows a deep inequality for workers.

The First Minister said in FMQs this week: “if we do less to control the virus, things are better for the economy. In fact the opposite ends up being true: if we do not properly control the virus, the damage to the economy becomes worse, and the effects will be even longer lasting”. While this sentiment is admirable, by providing no financial support for people to isolate and with Christmas only a few weeks away, many will be left with no option but to work.