Coronavirus cluster shuts Glasgow jobcentre as staff slam 'inhumane' DWP push

This newspaper has learned that at least one Scots Jobcentre was forced to close this week after a coronavirus cluster emerged amongst staff.

But despite a UK-wide increase in virus transmission that’s led to the enforcement of tighter restrictions on movement, DWP bosses now want to increase Jobcentre opening hours to allow more claimants through the doors.

The PCS union issued an alert to members earlier this week about management moves to bring more 18 to 24-year-olds into offices to meet work coaches once again.

That comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson abandoned his back to the office advice as the UK reached what he called a “perilous turning point” in the virus.

Small numbers of people have been attending face-to-face interviews in recent weeks but health and safety officers were asked to complete assessments to prepare for a significant ramping up of in-office meetings between staff and clients in a move said to be “a ministerial decision”.

That’s despite a UK-wide rise in coronavirus cases which saw almost 7000 new cases confirmed on Friday alone. More than 450,000 positive tests have been recorded and more than 40,000 people have died within 28 days of that diagnosis.

Meanwhile, the virus has also claimed jobs, with unemployment in Scotland increasing to 128,000 in the three months to July, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

It’s anticipated that the current unemployment rate of 4.6% will rise before the end of the year as restrictions on travel and socialising continue to keep bars, nightclubs and theatres closed, pushing thousands onto employment support packages.

Estimates suggest joblessness could go as high as 12%.

The Scottish Government has called for an extension to the furlough scheme to save those affected by temporary closures and contractions from redundancy. However, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has instead announced a new scheme which will provide lesser earnings support for those deemed to be in “viable” jobs.

Jobcentres will now prepare to re-open their doors on Saturdays from next month.

Earlier this week union leaders met with bosses over moves to significantly increase the number of younger claimants seen within offices. It’s understood that staff will now be allowed the discretion to continue remote meetings following the talks.

In a document seen by the Sunday National, PCS said: “PCS are fundamentally opposed to the need to bring any new client groups into offices at this time.

“In a time when the public health messages are clear that, in order to prevent virus transmission, measures to restrict and reduce our movements and social interactions are required, DWP wish to extend and increase their services, working times and the numbers of people both in offices and having to travel to attend those offices.

“As members should be aware figures for coronavirus cases in Scotland recorded on Friday are the most on record and in the seven days to September 27 there were over 3200 positive cases in Scotland.

“We wish to make it clear to you that we oppose the process that we have been asked to consult on, however it is our duty as PCS health and safety officers to attempt to ensure that any process imposed by management is carried out in as safe a way as possible, but wish to clarify that this does not mean that we feel it is safe and neither do we agree with it.”

After the message was circulated, one Scots Jobcentre in Glasgow’s Shettleston district was forced to close for a deep clean after three coronavirus cases were linked to the east end site.

It re-opened on Wednesday but was shuttered again the next day as cases grew to 13.

The DWP press office refused to confirm or deny the reasons for the closure, in line with a policy on withholding information that puts it at odds with schools, universities and other parts of the public sector.

However, sources told the Sunday National it will be closed for a fortnight and health guidance has been issued to staff.

The area has some of the poorest health outcomes in Scotland and local MP David Linden has written to the Secretary of State asking for answers.

In the letter, he hits out at the DWP for a lack of transparency over the matter and asks if all members of the public who have been in the premises around the time of the outbreak have been traced.

He goes on: “Given the likelihood of localised outbreaks going forward, I would suggest that the department reviews the way in which this information is distributed so as to command public confidence.”

The SNP MP also pressed for answers on information passed on by the Sunday National in the public interest, asking for the “rationale” behind the renewed push towards younger claimants, and said: “I am deeply concerned about the lack of information regarding all of this.”

Linden added: “The smoke and mirrors surrounding all of this is deeply unhelpful in the height of a global pandemic.

“At a time of increasing infection rates, we should be reducing the need for claimants to visit Jobcentres and instead make use of digital technology. Instead there appears to be a rush to return to normal which clearly hasn’t worked in the case of Shettleston Jobcentre.

“The DWP has a fair bit of explaining to do about a policy which I frankly find utterly unfathomable. I very much hope answers are forthcoming without delay.”

A whistleblower told the Sunday National: “I don’t know what the thinking is behind any of the decisions made over the last six months.

“Prior to the outbreak, Jobcentres were focusing on transforming the support to make it primarily online. There doesn’t seem to be any logical reason why we need more contact in the Jobcentre during a pandemic.

“This is culpably inhumane, if not purposely. They want to force us to come into work to force even poorer and more vulnerable people to tell us what they’re doing to apply for jobs that we know aren’t there.

“There’s a level of disenchantment within the DWP. We are putting the most vulnerable people within our community at risk.

“We have extra cleaners and security guards doing touch point cleaning, but it’s indisputable now that we can all work from home. However, we were designated as key workers at the start of lockdown so that’s still not happening.”

The DWP said: “Staff and customer safety is our priority. Sites have been adapted to ensure they are Covid-19 secure and we have engaged and consulted extensively regarding the expansion of our services – including with the PCS. Individual work coaches know what is best for their customers and they have been empowered to make decisions based on each case and their local situation.”