Jobcentres ‘should be closed now’, says Public and Commercial Services Union

Union highlights that DWP's insistance on all jobcentres remaining open goes against government advice to work from home

The DWP should act in immediately closing all Jobcentres, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has said.

Despite the Cabinet Office strengthening its message for people to work from home to help stop the spread of Covid-19, the PCS highlights that the DWP is still insisting that all jobcentres remain open despite the rapidly worsening situation.

Pointing out that jobcentres were closed at the beginning of the pandemic, the PCS says -

'Many members are still reporting that they don’t have the necessary kit to work from home. And with DWP insisting all jobcentres remain open and management reluctant to grant special leave for those without kit, there are still too many staff in workplaces who don't need to be there.

Management nationally seems too slow to react to what is a fast developing and highly worrying situation, with an increase in both positive cases and deaths. In fact in the last week we have seen worrying reports of incidents across the country. Jobcentres should be closed now.'

NB - the DWP updated its press release Jobcentre guidance on new national COVID restrictions on 15 January 2021 to advise that -

'Jobcentres will be open from 10am to 2pm to help keep our colleagues and customers as safe as possible in the latest phase of this pandemic.'

For more information, see PCS pressure leads to strengthening of work from home message but courts, DVLA and jobcentres should close from pcs.org.uk