Unite union welcomes Scottish Government instruction to close down construction sites in response to coronavirus risk; Companies now 'doing what they should have done last week'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Unite has welcomed the instruction by the Scottish Government to close construction sites not linked to the health service.
The union had been demanding construction sites across Scotland should stop with immediate effect or lives would be put at risk.
It said it had been inundated by reports this week that construction workers were having to use public transport or shared transport in order to comply with employer requests or face losing wages.
It also had concerns about a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish Secretary, said: "Unite has been demanding that construction workers should not be on sites unless they are expressly linked to the health service, as the First Minister advised.
"We are now being told that construction companies are closing down sites following instruction by the Scottish Government, which is very welcome.
"However, it’s extremely disappointing that many construction firms continued to put profit ahead of people and did not act responsibly at an early stage.
"Many of these firms have been compelled to do what they should do have done themselves last week."
It's understood that a number of employees in Ross-shire have been amongst those concerned at being asked to continue going to work despite being in "non-essential" sectors.
Have you been affected? How are you finding working from home - if that is possible? Share your stories with us by emailing newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
