CBI responds to BEIS working safely consultation

Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director General, said:

“The challenge of restarting the economy without compromising health unites us all. Partnership between government, businesses and employees is the only way to get it right.

“Lockdown was a necessarily brutal, sharp process, and firms had to wait for clear guidance. Now that is available, many businesses are expanding operations and safely protecting livelihoods. Restart will be more gradual, giving us time to plan and prepare properly. It’s vital to use this time and the CBI welcomes the opportunity to consult on the approach.

“There are clear lockdown lessons that firms will be looking to for the next phase. Restart must put health first, or it will risk sending the economy backwards. It must continue the Government’s approach of flexibility within a framework. This means firms receive clear guidance and can move at speeds that suit their circumstances. Critically, it also means those who have already invested heavily in safety don’t have to start again.

“Restart should also be phased, built on the enablers of revival: schools, transport and testing; and underpinned by a new wave of economic support. It can be the start of economic renewal – with a shared determination to build-in sustainability and fairness to a long-term vision.

“We are in this fight together, so government, business and unions must speak as one throughout to give us the best chance of protecting jobs.”