Rico Black, Royal Mail, ‘We will safely deliver these vital tests.’

Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer,

Laboratory-based testing on this scale is a little like building the medical equivalent of a car factory - Amazon and Royal Mail will help with logistics, while Boots has been supporting initial trials by supplying volunteer healthcare clinicians as testers. It will continue this support as the testing rolls out across the UK. Testing will not be done at Boots stores and these tests will not be available over the counter or for purchase online from any retailers.

Alan Lewis, partner at Constantine Law brings the IOC a multiple update, the very latest on furloughing, what it means and how to implement it (updated March 27th) and Alan also brings us his extended 17-point plan on employment law for the express sector.

Alan delivered the last employment status keynote to the IOC heads of industry round table. You can call Alan direct on 0203 696 8230

 

Getting food final mile to the door. Ocado delivering for neighbours shopping on-line for neighbours without internet.

Graham Thomas – IOC fellow, FLEET OPERATIONS MANAGER – TRUCK- OCADO GROUP plc - We're immensely proud of all of our front line employees

(Written Friday March 20th)

Alan Lewis was the last IOC round table keynote speaker; he is a partner at Constantine Law. He reminds us that events are moving rapidly with the Coronavirus.

He has put together an employment briefing for the IOC and he is updating next week with the Friday 80% payroll measures. The document can be accessed on the IOC web bubble for coronavirus information. We bring you the fifteen-point detail headings in summary below.

 

Richard England, IOC chair of owner-operator group - hygiene supplies to keep our drivers safe on the front line

We need the government to gain access to hygiene supplies to keep our drivers safe on the front line. Finding adequate supplies is very difficult currently.

Companies with sign-written vans or business accounts in a courier company's name should have priority access to fuel if supply chains break down. Identification with company ID badge a possible answer to policing this and members of the IOC should carry the IOC key worker certificate.

News on funding for business continuity and wage guarantees has been a good, but we now need practical reality, advice and procedures to put this in place.

Temporary exemption will enable vital services to continue, delivery to the door, frontline workers to get to work, and people to get essential food and medicine.

· Vans, motorcycles and cars to be granted MoT exemption

· this will allow people to carry on with essential travel

· vehicles must be kept in roadworthy condition

Vehicle owners will be granted a 6-month exemption from MOT testing, enabling them to continue to travel to work where this absolutely cannot be done from home, or shop for necessities.