Petition · past parliament
Implementation of a permanent wage rise for all "Key Essential Workers"
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, many workers are carrying on their services because they are essential to society and to basic human needs. It is here proposed that all such workers in these services have their contribution recognised in a meaningful sense.
The vast majority of so called "Key Essential Workers" are among the lowest paid in our society, with many only making the national minimum wage and not a living wage. Without these people working through the crisis we currently face, and putting themselves at daily risk in the process, our country would have ground to a screeching halt. They deserve to be recognised and they deserve support
This needs to change.
If workers are to be considered essential, they should be treated as such.
This needs to change.
If workers are to be considered essential, they should be treated as such.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign some of these petitions:
Identify and reward all key workers due to Covid-19: Identify and reward all key workers due to Covid-19
Consider how to compensate key workers for their efforts during Covid-19 crisis: Consider how to compensate key workers for their efforts during Covid-19 crisis
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
Pay Key Workers 2 weeks full pay if they have to isolate: Pay Key Workers 2 weeks full pay if they have to isolate.
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
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/
Identify and reward all key workers due to Covid-19: Identify and reward all key workers due to Covid-19
Consider how to compensate key workers for their efforts during Covid-19 crisis: Consider how to compensate key workers for their efforts during Covid-19 crisis
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
Pay Key Workers 2 weeks full pay if they have to isolate: Pay Key Workers 2 weeks full pay if they have to isolate.
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
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
| 29 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 13 May 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
13 May 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.