Oldham MP calls for sick pay reforms

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has advocated a series of reforms to Statutory Sick Pay. 

Ms Abrahams is a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee which recently published a report calling for an increase in Statutory Sick Pay to the levels of Statutory Maternity Leave.

It also called for eligibility to be extended to all employees, not just those above the Lower Earnings Limit, but proposed the retention of the three day waiting period, something which Ms Abrahams had hoped the Committee would agree to abolish following the experience from the pandemic and also the large number of European countries who don’t have a waiting period.

Building on her previous career as a Public Health consultant and academic focused on tackling inequalities, Ms Abrahams is also a supporter of the Safer Sick Pay campaign.

Ms Abrahams said: “Whilst the Select Committee report on Statutory Sick Pay makes some excellent recommendations such as the abolition of the lower earnings limit, we weren’t able to agree to an abolition of the three-day waiting period.

"I’d like to see this happen as soon as possible.

"Shift workers like care workers, cleaners and hospitality staff are often more exposed to bugs due to their public roles and as Statutory Sick Pay doesn't pay out until day four, they lose out. 

"It means a worker has to choose between isolating with no pay, or turning up at work still carrying an infectious bug.

"The Government has turned a blind eye to the problem and is failing to learn the lessons of the pandemic.”

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