As B&Q and other DIY places are allowed to re-open, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has called on the Government to adopt a 'standards-led approach' to reopening businesses in the region, rather than a 'sector-led approach'.
There are all sorts of option ideas floating around for easing the lockdown; one being a 'regional release' (a region at a time), and another being a 'sector-led' release, under which specific sections of businesses could open, like DIY stores, garden centres, hairdressers etc.
Burnham argued that a regional release from the lockdown would be unfair and impossible to enforce as regions still in lockdown watched others return to 'normality'. Meanwhile, a sector-led approach risked businesses returning without the necessary health and safety standards in place. This could also harm places reliant on specific sectors, that might be last on the list of those allowed to re-open.
Yesterday, speaking on SKY's Ridge on Sunday programme, Burnham called for a 'standards-led' approach in which health and safety is the foremost concern in a business re-opening...and that this could be a potential route for all businesses to re-open.
"If you take a standards-led approach you're putting health and safety at the heart of this release from lockdown, and that's the way to go in my view" he said "It would be overseen by the Health and Safety Executive, but it would allow businesses in all parts of the economy to innovate – perhaps to change the way they work, limit the number of employees that they have in work – but at least it would give them a route back."
The decision on whether businesses were able to open would be based on staff safety, and clear social distancing and hygiene standards, rather than membership of a particular sector.
Together with the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, Burnham is also developing plans for a 'Build Back Better' campaign with businesses and trade unions, in which some of the 'benefits' of the lockdown, such as cleaner air, a focus on exercising and more flexible working, should not be lost. They are also calling for improved conditions for workers who have kept the country going during the pandemic.
"People are looking at the world with new eyes and can see how unfair it is that the people still out there working, and keeping the country running at risk to their own personal safety, are also the lowest-paid in society" Burnham said "Coming out of this, we need a national revaluation of work. For at least the last 20 years, we have been over-valuing the work of the top 50% in society and under-valuing the bottom 50%. The time has come to narrow the gap between the bottom and top and give those on the minimum wage a decent pay rise.
"I think we need a real national commitment to build back better, and recognise that those minimum wage heroes who've been out there working for us all need a much better deal than the one they've had in recent years" he added.
Meanwhile, the grim statistics of coronavirus continue...19 more confirmed cases in Salford, taking the total to 547, up 19 on the previous day's 528 cases. And Salford Royal Hospital has announced another four sad deaths, bringing its total to 122 since the pandemic began.
Main photo by Gareth Lyons
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