ICCM urges govt to recognise cemetery and crem staff as key workers
Despite their frontline work managing deaths, burials and cremations during the pandemic, the ICCM said many were left without adequate support, resources or recognition
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The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) has called on the government to clarify whether cemetery and crematorium staff are officially considered key workers, as the Covid-19 inquiry in England and Wales continues this week.
According to the ICCM, there was no consistent approach across the UK during the pandemic. In England and Wales, cemetery and crematorium staff were granted key worker status near the end of the pandemic. In Northern Ireland, only crematorium staff were recognised, while in Scotland no such status was granted.
The UK-wide inquiries have highlighted the role played by cemetery and crematorium workers during the pandemic. Despite their frontline work managing deaths, burials and cremations, the ICCM said many were left without adequate support, resources or recognition.
Mathew Crawley, chief executive of the ICCM, said: “The pandemic showed, beyond question, how essential cemetery and crematorium staff are to our national resilience. They continued to work in emotionally and physically demanding conditions, ensuring that families could lay their loved ones to rest with dignity, despite enormous restrictions.
“As the Covid inquiries progress, it is imperative that these roles are finally recognised through formal key worker status across the UK.”
He added: “Five years on, and there has been little movement with this request. While pre-pandemic planning is ongoing throughout the UK in an effort to be better prepared should another pandemic arise, it remains a difficult task for all those involved when the clarity of key worker status is particularly uncertain. We want to make sure the system is ready and resilient for future emergencies. For this to happen, we need clarity from the government.”
The ICCM urged the devolved administrations to update key worker classifications to include cemetery managers, crematorium technicians, grave diggers and administrative staff who kept critical services running during the pandemic.
The organisation said the change would recognise the contribution of staff during Covid-19 and strengthen preparedness for future public health emergencies. It added that it stood ready to work with the government and sector partners to implement the change.
