Petition · past parliament
Minimum starting salary of Key Workers above the Low-skilled threshold of £25600
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
I would like the government and parliament to consider after the Covid-19 crisis increasing the minimum starting salary of all listed as Key Workers above the new government immigration threshold for Low-Skilled workers of £25,600 for both new and existing workers INSTEAD of lowering the threshold.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that in a national emergency our country is depending on Key Workers, many of whom immigrated from abroad and under new government laws are classed as Low-Skilled workers.
For people in "specific shortage occupations" the limit can be as low as £20,480 yet they are the ones who cannot work from home or shield themselves from danger.
The aim is to raise starting salaries above the Low-Skilled threshold of £25,600 for all listed as KEY WORKERS, new and existing.
For people in "specific shortage occupations" the limit can be as low as £20,480 yet they are the ones who cannot work from home or shield themselves from danger.
The aim is to raise starting salaries above the Low-Skilled threshold of £25,600 for all listed as KEY WORKERS, new and existing.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
The Government is not responsible for setting salaries for most workers, and many workers currently categorised as essential are privately employed.
We have published a number of petitions calling on the Government to take action to financially rewards key workers, both now and in the future, which you might like to sign:
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
Fund free Travel, Parking, Hotel & Childcare during COVID-19 for NHS staff: Fund free Travel, Parking, Hotel & Childcare during COVID-19 for NHS staff
Fund free meals for NHS staff whilst on duty during the COVID19 Pandemic: Fund free meals for NHS staff whilst on duty during the COVID19 Pandemic
Supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers: Supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
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 can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
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 letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
We have published a number of petitions calling on the Government to take action to financially rewards key workers, both now and in the future, which you might like to sign:
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
Fund free Travel, Parking, Hotel & Childcare during COVID-19 for NHS staff: Fund free Travel, Parking, Hotel & Childcare during COVID-19 for NHS staff
Fund free meals for NHS staff whilst on duty during the COVID19 Pandemic: Fund free meals for NHS staff whilst on duty during the COVID19 Pandemic
Supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers: Supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
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 can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
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 letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Timeline
| 26 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 7 May 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
7 May 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.