Greens call for Covid to be classed as occupational disease
Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP has called on the Scottish Government to seek to have Covid-19 classed as an occupational disease, in order that frontline health and care workers are eligible to seek compensation.
Speaking at a virtual parliamentary question session this afternoon, Ms Johnstone highlighted the global debate that is underway on compensation for frontline health and care workers and noted that Belgium has already added Covid-19 to its list of proscribed occupational diseases.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
“Frontline health and care workers have gone to extraordinary lengths to support those whose care they are charged with throughout this crisis, too often without the appropriate personal protective equipment, and with limited access to testing.
“I am alarmed that the Cabinet Secretary does not know how many health and care workers have been infected with the virus.”
“It’s clear that frontline health and care staff have been exposed to the virus, and it’s likely that a significant number will have contracted it in their workplace.”
“I call upon the Scottish Government to seek to have Covid-19 designated as an occupational disease so that these workers can access the support they will need, both in the short and long term, as they recover from this illness.”