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Coronavirus – INCA Member Information and Guidance

INCA Secretariat would like to reassure members that INCA remains open for business and are producing updates and practical, EWI industry -specific guidance for INCA members on dealing with the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis designed to help keep our industry going in these challenging times.

As the situation is changing on a daily basis, member employers are advised to check the latest official websites for guidance on dealing with and preventing the spread of Coronavirus.:

Government https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus,

HSE https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/coronavirus.html,

NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Job Retention Scheme

HMRC confirmed yesterday that online claims portal for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme should be open by 20 April, with the first grant payments made to businesses by the end of the month.

They are also allowing furloughed employees to continue or undertake any training providing it doesn’t generate income or a service to the company.

Coronavirus costing construction £237m a day.

The latest PMI figures show the brutal effect that Covid-19 is having on our industry with a further warning that the sector “has not hit rock bottom yet” Data collected in March points to the fastest downturn in UK construction output for almost 11 years as emergency measures to halt the spread of the virus has led to site interruptions and a slump in new orders.

Construction companies also cited intense supply chain pressure during March due to reduced capacity and shortages of building materials including PPI.  The figures also demonstrate a rapid fall in construction output in March, declining at the steepest rate since April 2009 which has overwhelmingly been attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst it is recognised the outbreak will only be temporary, the effects on construction will be long lasting unless clients and tier one Main contractors do all they can to protect their supply chain partners.

Sadly, the outbreak struck at a time when the industry was gaining real momentum, with the fastest expansion in a year recorded last month, but now it’s been stopped dead in its tracks! THE CEBR warned that construction was among several industries, alongside accommodation and food services, to be “disproportionately impacted” by the virus because so many people in the sector are unable to work from home.

Construction Site update: Industry leaders call for truce on disputes and pay less notices

The CLC (Construction Leadership Council) and other construction bodies are increasingly concerned about the management of payment in the supply chain, and the risk that clients and MC’s will seek to invoke contractual clauses to the detriment of the supply chain.

“We are clear that all construction businesses should continue to pay in accordance with agreed contractual terms. Similarly, firms should not be threatening to invoke penalties or other contractual clauses, when it should be the priority of the clients and MC’s to sustain the industry. Actions at this time will be remembered. All firms should think hard about how their reputation could be damaged by failing to do the right thing. More information can be found in the link “Covid-19 managing the impact on construction contracts”

From the INCA Team. Keep safe, stay healthy. Commitment amongst us all will ensure that we get through this difficult time together.