Self-employed workers will likely have welcomed the recent extension of government support to see them through the Covid-19 crisis, but many construction bosses are apparently not so keen.

The government’s decision to extend the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme until the end of March 2021 and increase grants from 55% to 80% of earnings has been bad news for the construction industry, it is being argued.

Those speaking out against state aid for the self-employed are members of the British & Irish Trading Alliance (BITA), a networking group of predominantly Anglo-Irish businesses.

BITA’s membership  includes Laing O’Rourke, Danny Sullivan Group, J Coffey Group, Ballymore, McNamara Construction, O’Donovan Waste Disposal and many others from across the construction supply chain.

Members say that many construction workers are choosing to sit at home and take 80% of usual earnings rather than go to work for 100%.

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