Coronavirus: Sheffield's Labour MPs demand better rights for workers and say many face losing their jobs or 'drastic cut in hours'

Olivia Blake, Louise Haigh, Gill Furniss, Paul Blomfield and Clive Betts have issued a joint statement and have also called on Conservative MP Miriam Cates to sign it in support.

The letter says: "It is alarming and worrying that many workers in our community are facing a drastic cut in hours or losing their jobs, as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

"It is particularly worrying that workers on zero hour contracts and those who are self employed will be left with no resources to pay rent and sustain themselves and their families.

"We encourage business, government and trade unions to do everything they can to work together to support workers and to introduce a package that follows the TUC guidelines."

The MPs want wage subsidies for reduced hours plus parental leave and financial support for mums and dads who can't work because their children are not at school or nursery.

They are calling for sick pay for everyone, including the two million low-paid workers who currently don’t earn enough to qualify for it.

Sick pay should be increased to at least the real living wage as £94 a week is not enough for people to survive on, especially over a prolonged period.

They say the government must help people meet their rent, mortgage and debt payments, give people living on benefits and pensions a significant bump in income.

And ministers need to pull together employers, unions and government agencies to make sure coronavirus doesn’t lead to a recession and mass unemployment.

The letter adds: "We understand that many businesses in the city are doing what they can to support their workers.

"We would like to point to and congratulate Home Bargains as an example of a business that has put together a package of support for their workers.

"We would urge all employers in Sheffield to work closely with trade unions to resolve any workplace issues that arise."