In all affected countries in the world, governments are turning to 'key' members of society in an effort to maintain health and safety standards for their populations.  These people are being hailed as 'heroes' and as 'key' to humanity's ability to work through this problem - and indeed they are.  So why are they so badly treated, considered and paid? 

An NHS worker in the UK routinely earns less than the national average (£30,000), as do supermarket assistants, social care professionals and bus drivers - yet these are the people keeping the world's economies afloat.

The capitalist ethos would have us believe that the market decides the value of everything - and that items of high value are priced more highly than those of less value.  Seeing as we live in a capitalist economy then, it seems only fair to evaluate the contributions of individuals based upon their monetary value to society - or what they earn...  If you really think that they workers are key - then treat them like they are key:  pay them as if they are key, ensure that their institutions have the necessary support and funding to allow this key role to be fulfilled.

If you fail to rectify this situation, then all your talk of people like this being key is empty air - just another sound-bite from another government official that wants to be seen to be saying the right thing.

Don't let applause be our only contribution to this crisis - make the changes necessary to fund the health and emergency services; fund the social support networks; fund the education system that remains open so that nurses and firefighters can go to work.  

Prove your mantra - value these people as they deserve to be valued.  They should be among the highest paid in society - not the lowest.