Key workers who have kept the country going during the pandemic this year will be on duty on Christmas Day and deserve improvements to their pay and conditions, union leaders are urging.
The TUC said its analysis of official figures showed that one in five care workers and one in six nurses will not have a day off on Friday.
Workers such as social care staff are on low pay and insecure contracts, while many others who will be on call, including police officers and firefighters, face a pay freeze in 2021.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Key workers have cared for us during this crisis and continue to care for us. It’s time we cared for them.
“Many working over Christmas are on low pay and insecure contracts, especially in sectors like social care.
“Many key workers keeping services running, like firefighters and the police, face a wage freeze in 2021.
“That is not right. It’s time to give every key worker the pay rise they have earned.
“The Prime Minster must make this his New Year’s Resolution, with a plan to improve pay and conditions for all our key workers.”
A Government spokesman said: “We understand the pressure the pandemic has placed on many individuals and we are incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of everyone in the fight against coronavirus, especially at Christmas.
“The increase to the National Minimum and Living Wages from April 2021 will benefit around two million of the UK’s lowest-paid workers with someone working full-time on the National Living Wage set to get an extra £345 per year.
“Over one million NHS staff are currently benefiting from multi-year pay deals that have delivered a pay rise of over 12% for newly qualified nurses and will increase junior doctors’ pay by 8.2%.
