[IER] PPE failures a “shameful” violation of human rights, says Amnesty International

Wed Apr 7 15:40:47 BST 2021

News brief - 07/04/21                                                                            <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=38f5332a4d> View this email in your browser 

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PPE failures a “shameful” violation of human rights, says Amnesty International 

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Global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, today published  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/ppe-failures-a-shameful-violation-of-human-rights-says-amnesty-international/> a scathing report into actions of the UK government over the past year, including on health and safety failures in workplaces.

The body's annual report said the failure to provide care workers with adequate PPE, the discharge of infected patients into care homes, and the imposition of a Do Not Resuscitate order on elderly residents "violated the right to health and right to life” of some of the UK's most vulnerable citizens.

It also attacked the cascade of anti-democratic policies pushed through by the Johnson administration in parallel to the pandemic, including the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill; the review into the Human Rights Act; and proposed limits on judicial review.

Amnesty's report follows the IER's own publication into the  <https://www.ier.org.uk/product/hse-and-covid-at-work-a-case-of-regulatory-failure/> HSE and Covid at work: a case of regulatory failure, which launches a two-year programme of work into the barriers to health and safety in the workplace and their solutions.

Today, we launch our new Health and safety: From Covid to Roben's II hub page, on which you will find all publications and resources associated with this programme. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/hseandcovid/> Visit our health and safety hub 

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The IER is proud to launch a programme of low-cost advertising to trade unions and the organisations that wish to reach them as a means of supporting our charitable aims.

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Featured event

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22nd April 2021 – 10:00 am - 1:05 pm

Significant discounts on bulk bookings 

The excellent team from Old Square Chambers joins us once again for our popular annual review of the year’s case law.

Delegates to the event will receive a FREE copy of the accompanying IER publication Labour Law Highlights 2021 – the latest in our long-running series of practical guides to changes in legislation and its intepretation by the Courts.

Barristers from Old Square Chambers will provide detailed analysis of the year’s case law and how recent rulings might impact on future cases brought by trade unions.

Topics covered include equality, harassment, worker status, unfair dismissal, redundancy, TUPE, whistleblowing, working time, tribunal procedures, and more.

Unions and organisations sending multiple delegates are eligible for significant discounts on bulk bookings. Please call 0151 207 5265 or email  <mailto:office at ier.org.uk> office at ier.org.uk to discuss.

Speakers

Madeline Stanley, Old Square Chambers

Ben Jones, Old Square Chambers

More speakers to be announced

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/events/case-law-review-2021/> Book your place 

WATCH: Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill: A Consultation Response from IER

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COMMENT: The original ‘gig’ workers: The fight against bogus self-employment in the construction industry

Assistant General Secretary of Unite, Gail Cartmail, says pressure is growing on the government to respond to the epidemic of bogus self-employment in the construction industry.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/comments/the-original-gig-workers-the-fight-against-bogus-self-employment-in-the-construction-industry/> Read full story 

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COMMENT: Unpaid Work Requirements of Offenders: Rehabilitation or Exploitation?

Professor Virginia Mantouvalou warns that privatisation within the probation services is leading to the exploitation of unpaid workers for profit rather than public good. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/comments/unpaid-work-requirements-of-offenders-rehabilitation-or-exploitation/> Read full story 

WATCH: Health and Safety Law and Enforcement

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdmLomiAbM&> 

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PPE failures a “shameful” violation of human rights, says Amnesty International

The government is attacking the human rights of its citizens at an acclerating rate, Amnesty International warns. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/ppe-failures-a-shameful-violation-of-human-rights-says-amnesty-international/> Read full story 

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Most workplaces did not receive promised Covid-19 “spot checks”

New figures reveal widespread non-compliance with Covid-19 workplace rules and virtually no enforcement action. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/most-workplaces-did-not-receive-promised-covid-19-spot-checks/> Read full story 

Join us for a special May Day event

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1st May 2021 – 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

On international workers’ day join us to celebrate trade union victories, organise for resistance against authoritarianism and plan for a fundamental change in workers’ rights in Britain. 

This event is kindly sponsored by the NWTUC, and Unite the Union West Midlands Region

Speakers to be announced.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/events/resist-repeal-replace/> Book your place 

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Over-50s hardest hit by Covid redundancies

Concerns have been raised about the opportunities for older workers to find new jobs. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/over-50s-hardest-hit-by-covid-redundancies/> Read full story 

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Govt gives just 50p extra to struggling workers on statutory sick pay

Unions have criticised the government's "miserly" approach to sick pay. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/govt-gives-just-50p-extra-to-struggling-workers-on-statutory-sick-pay/> Read full story 

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 is holding all events online until further notice.

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 attention.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and wish you all best wishes during this difficult time.

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