Construction workers 'should be designated essential'

Construction workers should be labelled "essential workers" in order to legitimise them travelling to work, industry leaders have told government.

Their call follows hostility toward some construction staff, particularly on social media, for going to work, despite the fact the government has asked them continue working where safe to do so. A number of firms have resorted to providing their staff with letters explaining they are required to work which they can present if questioned. 

Details of the request to ministers were published in a daily coronavirus update from an industry trade body which said: "Build UK and others called on the government to designate construction workers as ‘essential workers’, in order to reassure everyone that they had permission to leave their homes to go to work."

The update said construction minister Nadhim Zahawi was joined by representatives from Build UK and industry leaders including Mace chief executive Mark Reynolds and Julie White, managing director of specialist subcontractor D-Drill, on the call.

The update said Zahawi "recognised that companies were making some tough decisions and there had been some opposition to sites remaining open, especially via social media".

He reaffirmed that construction sites of all types should continue to operate.

Build UK said industry representatives had also raised concerns about access to cash.

It said: "The challenge of obtaining loans was highlighted. While government support was very much welcomed, it was recognised that for some it would come too late.

"The minister emphasised that the 'squeezed middle' of companies were now eligible for support and the coronavirus job retention scheme would start to pay out by the end of the month."

Zahawi also confirmed that he would look at public sector work that could be accelerated in the current circumstances.