TUC Position on COVID‑19 as an Occupational Disease

In 2022 the Trade Union Congress (TUC) published a report arguing for the urgent recognition of Covid-19 – particularly Long Covid — as an occupational disease in the UK. Workers in sectors such as health and social care, transport, food processing, retail and education are at significantly higher risk of exposure, illness and death due to working environments that require close and prolonged contact with other people.

The key points are:

• Over 25 million Covid-19 cases have been reported in the UK, with workplace exposure identified as one of the main sources of transmission.
• One in ten people experience Long Covid symptoms for more than 12 weeks, affecting job security, performance and income.
• Reporting of Covid-19 cases in the workplace to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been limited, leading to widespread under-reporting.
• Data from the ONS and the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) shows that the risk of a Covid-related death is more than twice as high in various occupational groups.
• Most European countries and others such as the US, Canada and Australia already categorise Covid-19 as an occupational disease and offer compensation and support.
• In the UK, the prescription of a disease allows affected workers to access financial support through the Industrial Injuries Scheme.
• The TUC is calling on the UK government to prescribe Covid-19 for occupations with a proven increased risk and to ensure that Long Covid is included.

The report concludes that classifying Covid-19 as an occupational disease is essential to recognise the risk in the workplace, protect workers at risk and ensure fair access to compensation. Three years on no action has been taken by the UK Government to address this issue.

Access the report by clicking here.