November 2020

50 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2020 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net garages did not need to reduce the number of staff on-site. With regards to customers, many have been operating contactlessly for months, so no one needs to actually enter a garage. Announcing the new rules, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Let me be clear – these measures are not a second national lockdown – the whole point of them is to avoid a second national lockdown,” he said. The Rule of Six could be in place until the spring to try and mitigate a winter surge of Coronavirus, it has been suggested. 17 Sept: Calls for furlough replacement grow louder While garages face the prospect of perhaps too much work going into the autumn thanks to the end of the MOT exemption, calls for the government to provide a replacement for the furlough scheme continued. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) was the latest body to add its voice, and was asking for ongoing and targeted support for the hardest-hit sectors. Even while the furlough was running with months to go, official figures showed that UK unemployment rose to its highest level for two years. It reached 4.1% in the three months to July. Previously the rate was 3.9%. Those in the 16-24 age group experienced the biggest drop, with 156,000 less young people employed in the quarter ending in July, compared to the prior quarter. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures also highlighted that staff were being taken off payroll even when the scheme was just starting. Since March, 695,000 people have been removed from company payrolls. CBI Director of People and Skills Matthew Percival said: “The easing of lockdown restrictions and a more flexible Job Retention Scheme in July have led to the beginning of a recovery in vacancies and hours worked. But rising redundancies, rising unemployment and a record fall in the number of young people in work are clear warning signs of what is to come. Looking ahead, a successor to the Job Retention Scheme is needed to protect jobs and businesses.” 21 September: Self- isolation- £10,000 fines for employers threatening redundancy Businesses, including garages, were set to face fines of up to £10,000 if they threatened staff with redundancy when they have to self-isolate due to COVID-19 symptoms. The fines for threatening redundancy were intended to send "a clear message that this will not be tolerated,” the government said. This was just one of a number of measures announced over the preceding weekend. From the end of the month, those who test positive for Coronavirus would be required by law to self- isolate at home, or if they are contacted by test and trace. The penalties for breaking self-isolation were harsher than before. Fines started at £1,000 rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders who are expected to be caught by more pro-active contacting of self-isolators. At the same time, there was to be government support for those on low- incomes. They will be able to access Test and Trace Support, a £500 lump sum available to those who cannot work from home which is intended to make up for any lost income. Around 4 million people will qualify, including those receiving universal credit, working tax credit, income-based employment and support allowance, income support, and housing benefit. Commenting on the stricter rule regime, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines. We need to do all we can to control the spread of this virus, to prevent the most vulnerable people from becoming infected, and to protect the NHS and save lives." The new rules applied from 28 September in England, but the government added it was "engaging" with the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop a system which is aligned across the UK. 22 September: Garages largely untouched by government’s stricter COVID-19 measures The government’s beefed-up COVID- 19 measures fell far short of a return People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines... ”