Despite the government’s new Employment Rights Bill, the UK is set to remain one of the developed nations with the weakest protections for ill workers—leaving 8.3 million contracted employees earning the equivalent of just £3 per hour when unwell.
Campaigners are urging the government to strengthen sick pay provisions, ensuring they provide a liveable income as MPs prepare to vote on the bill next week.
At present, approximately one in four UK workers—around 7 million people—are only eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP), rather than receiving enhanced support from their employers.
SSP is currently set at a flat rate of just £116.75 per week, equating to £467 per month for those who qualify.
Dr Matt Padley, a social policy expert at Loughborough University, has warned that this amount is “not enough to live on”, highlighting the significant financial strain it places on workers.
“Anyone forced to rely on SSP for an extended period will face a major reduction in income,” Dr Padley told The Independent.
“If they are unable to return to work for several months, the gap between their earnings and what is needed to maintain a dignified standard of living will continue to widen.”
As the cost of living crisis persists, campaigners stress that the already inadequate level of sick pay is falling even further behind the essential financial needs of workers across the UK.
