Government needs to clarify key worker status for essential foodservice equipment staff
Plus, will Government plans help foodservice equipment suppliers remain operational to support essential services?
The foodservice equipment industry trade bodies have called on the government to clarify whether some foodservice equipment personnel have key worker status. The government has said that those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines) have key worker status.
Keith Warren, director of FEA says: “With this backdrop, we believe the government should ascribe key worker status for certain parts of the foodservice equipment industry workforce, for example where their organisation is under contract to maintain catering facilities in hospitals or care homes.”
At the same time, while the four trade bodies say they are “very reassured” to have read the government’s announcement of the job safeguarding scheme and financial support to wages, the foodservice equipment industry now waits to see more of the scheme detail and operating criteria. “Catering facilities play a vital role in keeping the healthcare, military and emergency services as well as food retail sectors operational,” says Warren. “That’s why it’s so important for foodservice equipment businesses to remain operational throughout this crisis.”
For more information:
CEDA: www.ceda.co.uk
Cedabond: www.cedabond.co.uk
ENSE: enseuk.co.uk
FEA www.fea.org.uk