News brief - 07/08/20 View this email in your browser
Public money cut for modern slavery victims; given to corporate shareholders
The uptick in government spending during the Coronavirus pandemic, much of which has gone towards the Job Retention Scheme to keep workers afloat, has been widely welcomed across the board. But news this week has revealed another side to the story, with cuts to financial assistance for the most vulnerable in society on one hand; and gifts for billionaires on the other.
People recognised by the UK government as modern slavery victims, including those believed to have been trafficked for sex and left traumatised by their experiences, had all financial support unexpectedly cut in July. No warning was given to either the victims or their legal teams.
The Home Office says modern slavery victims no longer need money because they have been put up in hotels and other forms of temporary accommodation during the pandemic so already had access to shelter and food.
But campaigners have pointed out that many have been left without basic toiletries, including sanitary towels, and cannot afford to contact their lawyers, support networks, or to attend medical appointments. Some have resorted to begging, while charities have been forced to fill the gap by providing supermarket vouchers.
Lawyers have succeeded in winning the reinstatement of financial assistance to five victims and have now issued the Home Office with a letter warning of legal action on behalf of the hundreds of other victims still scraping by without money.
While this situation played out across the UK, billions in taxpayers' money was being siphoned off to some of the world's richest people.
The Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF), set up by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to protect the interests of companies that make a "material contribution to the UK economy", has so far loaned £4.26 billion to firms that paid an estimated £11.5 billion to their shareholders during the pandemic.
An investigation by VICE News discovered that multinational corporations were given access to the money at extremely preferential interest rates without limits being imposed on the way the funds could be spent.
Although the Bank of England has since encouraged the firms not to use the bailouts to reward their shareholders with huge dividends, there is evidence this is contining to be ignored.
Meanwhile, firms that accessed the CCFF have so far cut nearly 43,000 jobs across the UK.
More on this and other news stories below.
Lawyer in favour of curbing court powers appointed as head of Judicial Review reform commission
Lord Faulks has openly proposed limiting the powers of the Supreme Court after judges agreed Johnson prorogation was unlawful.
Read the full report
NHS privatisation accelerated during pandemic, doctors warn
Major contracts, including for the provision of contact tracing, have been given to firms that already have NHS scandals in their recent history.
Read the full report
Firms sack thousands of UK workers but reward shareholders with public money
Firms linked to climate change and tax avoidance among those paying shareholders out of taxpayer money.
Read the full report
Parents, carers and disabled twice as likely to be laid off, Citizens Advice finds
Citizens Advice is calling for the urgent establishment of a single enforcement body to prevent unfair redundancy practices.
Read the full report
Childcare workers paid under £5 per hour, Social Mobility Commission warns
Nearly two in five childcare workers quit the job in the first two years due to low pay, long hours and a lack of career progression.
Read the full report
Govt ‘withdrew support’ from UK modern slavery victims during pandemic
The Home Office is facing legal action over its decision to stop providing modern slavery victims with government assistance.
Read the full report
IER and Covid-19
Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease and the need to keep our staff, supporters and speakers safe, IER have decided to postpone all forthcoming IER events and meetings until further notice, including both Health and safety at work after Brexit conferences in Liverpool and London, the IER Executive Committee, IER AGM and our joint event with the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom on 6th June.
IER staff will continue to work, but remotely from home. We will answer emails, produce publications and circulate our weekly News Briefs and other on-line information. However, phone calls to the office or mail sent by post will not receive immediate attent
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and wish you all best wishes during this difficult time.
Copyright © 2020 Institute of Employment Rights, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or signed up at an IER event.
Our mailing address is:
Institute of Employment Rights4th Floor Jack Jones House1 IslingtonLiverpool, Merseyside L3 8EG United Kingdom
Add us to your address book
Unsubscribe from these emails using the instructions at the bottom of this email or in the attached .txt document. If you cannot find these instructions, please contact sarah at ier.org.uk
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.gn.apc.org/pipermail/ier-elist/attachments/20200807/ba9956e6/attachment-0001.html>