Equal wage support for the Self-Employed as for salaried workers during COVID-19 · petition

What the petition asks

The Chancellor stated that salaried workers will have 80% of their wages covered by the government. This is not on offer to the approximate five million workers in the UK who are Self-Employed. The government must match the support available for the Self-Employed to that of salaried workers.

The Self-Employed contribute their fair share of taxes and national insurance yet the government is treating them as lesser citizens than salaried employees. Comparatively, a Self-Employed person with the same annual income as a salaried worker is currently only entitled to 25% of the COVID-19 wage support that is otherwise available to that of the salaried employee. Both groups of workers should have equal rights, and therefore equal support from their government during this time of crisis.

Why it was rejected

The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.

Since this petition was started, the Government has said that most self-employed people can claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months.

You can find out who is eligible and how to apply here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

You can read the Government’s announcement here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-gives-support-to-millions-of-self-employed-individuals

You can find out what other Government support is available for people as a result of coronavirus (under the section on employment and financial support) here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

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

Timeline

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