Freight News, Sea

Port absentees rocket as NHS app tells workers to stay home

[ July 16, 2021   //   Chris ]

Chief Executive of the UK Major Ports Group, Tim Morris says that operators have seen rocketing numbers of staff having to isolate after being contacted by the NHS Covid app, similar to the rest of industry.

He added: “Most of these workers have received one vaccination already with many already double jabbed. We’re seeing some port operators with 10% of their workforce having to isolate and worrying trajectories at other major UK gateways. In many cases this is the worst absence situation that ports have experienced through the whole pandemic.

“Ports have done a great job of remaining open as the gateways for 95% of the UK’s trade throughout the pandemic, but we can’t isolate ourselves totally from the broader trends in the population. What we need are protocols that better reflect the vaccination status of key workers.”

Tags: UK Major Ports Group; UKMPG