Wales threatens £60 fine for making trips to WORK within draconian rules

WALES is threatening £60 fines for employees making “non-essential” trips to the workplace under new draconian regulations, it has been announced.

From Monday, workers can get fixed penalty notices as companies face huge fines of £1,000 per rule breach, rising to a potential £10,000.

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Until Tuesday, the Welsh Government had only issued guidance to encourage working from home amid a “two-phase plan” to tackle the Omicorn variant.

As a rule, citizens can still legally visit pubs, shops and restaurants with no mandatory limit on the number of people they can associate with.

However, new health restrictions next week will make it “not to work from home if at all possible” as First Secretary Mark Drakeford has tightened the new containment measures.

A Welsh Government spokesman explained: “Additional measures have been put in place to limit the spread of the virus and protect public health.

“In addition, our longstanding advice to everyone is to work from home whenever possible, since Monday it will be a legal requirement to work from home unless there is a reason. reasonable not to do so.

“We expect employers to take all reasonable steps to facilitate work from home and provide employees with the support they need.”

However, the Welsh Conservatives have accused the government of “sneakly putting the new Covid rules in the spotlight”, amid fears the new “disjointed” ruling could have a devastating impact on people. people.

Clwyd West Tory MP David Jones said: “The lack of clarity in this position is very disturbing. More guidance is needed on what ‘reasonably doable’ means.

“If clear information is not provided, many workers may be banned from work for fear of fines and criminal convictions.

“The same is true in the case of volunteers, who provide vital services, but may be concerned that they will not be considered ‘on the job’ by the authorities.

“If more comprehensive guidance is not issued quickly, there is a risk of chaos, which must be avoided at all costs.”

Meanwhile, TUC Secretary General Shavanah Taj expressed “shock and concern” at the new regulations, suggesting that it was “naive” to think responsibility was shared.

“A worker is not responsible for their workplace, but for their employer,” she said.

“This sets a really disturbing precedent that responsibility is somehow shared, and at best naively.”

Just yesterday, Drakeford implemented further restrictions as he confirmed that all sporting events in Wales will be play behind closed doors from the Gifting Day onwards.

A £3m spectator sport fund is being made available to clubs and venues affected by the latest restrictions, which are being reviewed “on a regular basis”.

But the ruling, announced in the early hours of Monday, will affect various sports including football, rugby union and football. race with some ticketed events in disarray.

It comes just days after the First Minister released some advice for the Christmas period – raising more trouble for the hospitality industry.

He confirmed that The nightclub will be closed from 27 December with the promise that a £60m fund will be launched to support any business affected by the restrictions.

As of Monday, the infection rate in Wales was just under 550 cases per 100,000 people as the new variant caused chaos.

And officials have so far urged people to reduce contact with others in the coming days, especially if Christmas plans include meeting older or more vulnerable people.

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