Minister Writes Letter Thanking Construction Industry for Continuing to Work

AN OPEN LETTER has been written thanking everyone in the construction industry for continuing to work, by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma.

In the letter Alok Sharma pays tribute to construction workers saying they have “answered the call to action”.

The letter continues, “My heartfelt and personal thanks for everything that each and every one of you is doing to support our joint national effort.”

The letter follows controversy after pictures were posted on social media last week of busy construction sites in London showing workers were not maintaining a two metre distance from one another.

The pictures also showed crowded London Underground station platforms and trains as construction workers travelled to site.

There were also concerns when workers posted pictures of busy work canteens where site employees were preparing food and sat next to each other eating lunch.

Work at home

The Business Minister states in the letter that, “Government has advised that wherever possible, people should work at home. However, we know that for many people working in construction their job requires them to travel to their place of work, and they can continue to do so.”

The minister points workers to the Site Operating Procedures (SOP) published by the Construction Leadership Council and advises them that when guidance is updated the SOP will reflect any changes.

The letter ends, “Thank you again to everyone operating in the UK construction sector. You are making a hugely valued and critical contribution to the resilience of our Nation and I salute you for the enormous efforts you are individually undertaking to support the UK economy.”

The letter can be viewed here.