Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland Foods, said that Covid-related absences were “growing exponentially. Within a week or two they’ll be the highest ever.”
“This will be a shit show for business”.
The bars, restaurants and pubs sector is facing a similar labour crisis, according to Kate Nicholls, head of UKHospitality, who said that up to *a third* of staff were being forced to stay at home in some of the worst cases…
- government wins aid cut vote by 333-298 after substantial Tory rebellion
- result: Rishi Sunak's £4bn annual cut to Britain's international aid will continue for at least 5 years
WaterAid chief Tim Wainwright:
“Chancellor’s cynical move to balance Britain’s books on the backs of the world's poorest people will cost 100s of 1000s of lives. To cut aid for lifesaving water and sanitation in the middle of worst pandemic for 100 years is unconscionable."
ActionAid chief Frances Longley:
“Today the government has chosen to pull up the drawbridge and leave behind millions of the poorest women and girls around the world. This is unforgivable at a time when the pandemic has already rolled back women’s rights by a generation."
turns out Boris Johnson’s intention to build his new trade yacht in the UK is set to fall foul of a World Trade Organization agreement struck by his own government last year
- in October Liz Truss signed the WTO’s “global procurement agreement”
- she said GPA would allow UK companies to keep bidding for state contracts worth £1.3tr globally
- overseas groups could still bid for UK public sector contracts “delivering better value for UK taxpayers”
- but item 47 of annex 4 of UK schedule of GPA says procurement of “ships, boats & floating structures, except warships” must be advertised internationally & awarded without discrimination.
- by contrast US, Japan, Australia have exempted non-military ships from this obligation