Petition · past parliament

Give all key workers listed by UK government during COVID-19 crisis a pay rise!

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Many of the key workers listed as needed to keep the UK going are the lowest paid. The Conservatives described many of them as “unskilled” just a month ago. ‬

‪The UK Government & Parliament must ensure they are given a permanent pay rise for putting their (and their families) health on the line.
It is a long standing & grave injustice that those listed as key workers during the COVID-19 Crisis are some of the lowest paid in society. Many of those listed have been derided as “unskilled”.

They cannot be expected to put their and their families health on the line for those with the means to self-isolate without being given at the very least a genuine living wage now & going forward.

Their bills/expenses should also be covered for their service to our citizens during this crisis.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

The Government is not responsible for setting the salary of most key workers, or setting minimum wages for particular sectors, but you may wish to sign petitions calling for the following actions:

Make hazard pay mandatory for key workers in the midst of COVID 19: Make hazard pay mandatory for key workers in the midst of COVID 19.

Give all key workers a 100% tax and Nat. Ins. holiday through COVID-19 crisis: Give all key workers a 100% tax and Nat. Ins. holiday through COVID-19 crisis

Pay bonus to all key workers: Pay bonus to all key workers

Incentivise NHS staff during the COVID19 outbreak by making wages untaxable: Incentivise NHS staff during the COVID19 outbreak by making wages untaxable

Increase pay for NHS healthcare workers and recognise their work: Increase pay for NHS healthcare workers and recognise their work

Bonus for emergency services personnel working due to COVID-19: Bonus for emergency services personnel working due to COVID-19

Make the minimum wage equal for all ages and increase to at least £10: Make the minimum wage equal for all ages and increase to at least £10

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/

Read correspondence with Government Ministers asking further questions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/

Timeline

20 Mar 2020 Petition opened for signatures
15 Apr 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 15 Apr 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.